Tripartite summit opens in Egypt on Palestinian developments

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - A tripartite summit began in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Thursday between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said the summit comes within the framework of "continuing intensive consultation and coordination on various issues of common interest, and to follow up on the next steps regarding support for the Palestinian cause in various forums and at all levels."

On Tuesday, Wafa said the summit aims to "urge the US administration to fulfill its promises to preserve the two-state solution, through practical steps that put an end to the racist settlement policy, and work to open a political path that leads to ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state and the right of return for refugees.”

Since April 2014, negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides have stalled, due to Tel Aviv's refusal to stop settlement building, release Palestinian detainees and evading the two-state solution.