News Analysis: Egypt stands by Palestinians to relaunch stalled peace process

Egypt will back any Palestinian peaceful choices that are meant to relaunch the stalled peace process with Israel and end the occupation of the Palestinian territories, experts said on Tuesday.

"Egypt has always been a backer of the Palestinian cause and the current Egyptian leadership has been working hard to help the Palestinians have their independent state," Abdul Aleem Mohammed, an advisor with Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Xinhua.

On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said that Egypt will continue work towards establishing a Palestinian state along the June 1967 demarcated borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

During a meeting with his visiting Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, Sisi explained that reaching an equitable and comprehensive settlement would enhance regional stability and end the current unrest in the Middle East.

Sisi also emphasized Egypt's steadfast stance regarding its support of the Palestinian issue and the continuous cooperation with all initiatives aiming to support the legitimate rights of Palestinians, affirming that the Palestinian cause is an Egyptian foreign policy priority.

"As a member of the Security Council which chairs the Council until the end of May, Egypt can push forward any initiative to revive the peace process," Abdul Aleem said.

France will host on May 30 a peace conference in a bid to relaunch peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis by the end of the year.

The French initiative was announced against the background of a growing tension between Israel and the Palestinians since last October. The conflict had so far left more than 200 Palestinians and 34 Israelis dead.

The last direct peace negotiations between the two sides stopped in April 2014 after they were sponsored by the U.S. for nine months. The talks led to no tangible results due to differences on major issues like settlement, security, borders and the recognition of a Palestinian state.

If the French peace conference fails, Abdul Aleem said, the Palestinians may return to the UN Security Council for resolution over Jewish settlements.

"Egypt will back any Palestinian approach as long as it is peaceful," he said.

Palestinian Ambassador to Cairo, Jamal al-Shobaki, said in an interview with Xinhua Monday that the Egyptian president confirmed during the meeting with Abbas that Egypt will exert efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

"President Abbas has briefed president Sisi on the Palestinian efforts to hold the peace conference in France. President Sisi welcomed the Palestinian endeavors and vowed a full support," al-Shobaki said.

The Ambassador revealed that Abbas has asked Egypt and the Arab League to support his efforts at the Security Council if Israel sabotaged the French peace initiative.

Meanwhile, Mukhaimar Abu Saada, professor of Political Science at the Palestinian al-Azhar University of Gaza, said Egypt can play an important role in supporting Palestine's efforts towards making peace with Israel.

Apparently, Abu Saada expected, the Palestinian leadership will approach the UN because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in many occasions rejected the French initiative for holding the peace conference, calling for unconditional bilateral talks with the Palestinians.

"Under all circumstances, Egypt will stand by the Palestinian side and mobilize the Arabs and its friends in the international community to support the Palestinian efforts to end the Israeli occupation," he concluded. Endit