CAIRO – 26 April 2022: Egypt warns against the Israeli continued attempts to Judaize East Jerusalem, Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Osama Abdel Khalek on Tuesday as saying.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Abdel Khalek said Egypt considers the Israeli occupation’s attempts to impose control over the city and change the legal and historic status of the holy sites as a matter that represents a threat of escalation.
Egypt also denounces the Israeli occupation forces’ storming of Al Aqsa Mosque and the acts of violence against Palestinian people in the courtyards of the holy mosque.
“Egypt affirms the need that all parties exercise self-restraint and that full protection is provided to Muslim worshipers to allow them to perform their prayers at the mosque,” Abdel Khalek added.
The envoy also shed light on Egypt’s efforts along with regional and international partners to secure the appropriate environment for the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
He affirmed that these efforts come in accordance with international terms of reference, the Arab peace initiative and the two-state solution based on the 4 June 1967 borders.
Abdel Khalek reiterated Egypt’s call for the liberation of all Arab territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
Egypt affirms that “full commitment to implementing the international legitimacy resolutions and the UN Charter based on respecting the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and non-interference in their domestic affairs are the only means to achieve security, stability, peace in the Middle East region,” he added.
On the regional level, the UN delegate said Cairo would continue backing all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement to the Yemeni crisis and welcomes the establishment of a presidential council in Yemen to resume the transitional phase.
He also said Egypt condemns all terrorist attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Abdel Khalek said Egypt is closely following the latest developments in Libya and backs all efforts to realize stability and holding the postponed parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible.
He noted that Cairo hosted in April last year a meeting for the Libyan Constitutional Track Committee under the sponsorship of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
MENA contributed to the reporting.