Egypt, Palestine, Jordan call for peace talks

by Zeynep Hilal Karyagdi

CAIRO (AA) - Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian foreign ministers on Saturday called for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at a press conference in Cairo.

The main cause of instability in the region is the unresolved Palestinian crisis and the failure to observe the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, Egypt's Sameh Shukri, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Palestine's Riyad Al Maliki agreed.

Sameh Shukri said that the ministers discussed a solution for the establishment of a Palestinian state with the capital of East Jerusalem.

Palestine’s Riyad Al Maliki said “Israel's settlement units will destroy efforts to complete the peace process based on a two-state solution”.

Maliki also stressed that they are ready to fight any violation against Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A written statement was issued after the foreign ministers’ meeting, saying that all unilateral practices toward changing the Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of East Jerusalem should be ended and that Israel should respect the historical and legal status of Al Aqsa Mosque.

The statement praised the role of the U.S. in the peace settlement, adding the desire of the ministers for the U.S. to increase its efforts in helping to achieve peace on both sides.