‘’We reiterated our commitment to reaching a two-state solution on the basis of all relevant UN resolutions, as the only realistic way to end the occupation that began in 1967, including of East Jerusalem, and to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians through direct negotiations between the parties that addresses all final status issues.’’

SHARM EL-SHEIKH—‘’We reaffirmed our common positions on the Middle East Peace Process, including on the status of Jerusalem, and on the illegality under international law of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories,’’ reads the final statement of the EU-League of Arab States two-day summit that took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

It was the first summit ever between the leaders of the European Union and the League of Arab States.

‘’I truly believe that it can be the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation between us,’’ declared Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, in a press conference  after the summit. Tusk co-chaired the meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In their statement, both sides said that ‘’we reiterated our commitment to reaching a two-state solution on the basis of all relevant UN resolutions, as the only realistic way to end the occupation that began in 1967, including of East Jerusalem, and to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians through direct negotiations between the parties that addresses all final status issues.’’

The statement recalled ‘’the importance of upholding the historic status quo for the holy sites in Jerusalem, including with regard to the Custodianship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.’’

It reaffirmed ‘’the indispensable role of UNRWA and the need to support it politically and financially in order to allow it to continue fulfilling its UN mandate.’’

‘’We expressed our concern about the humanitarian, political, security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip, and called for all parties to take immediate steps to produce a fundamental change to the better in full respect of international law, including human rights and humanitarian law, especially with respect to the protection of civilians,’’ the statement said..