The High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York from 28 to 30 July, has officially commenced. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, participated in a dialogue session to present the outcomes of the conference’s working groups. Alongside Ms. Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, he presented the final results of the Eighth Working Group, focused on "Peace Day Efforts," which is co-chaired by the League of Arab States and the European Union.
Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that during his remarks, Mr. Aboul Gheit highlighted the constructive commitments and contributions made by various countries, international and regional organisations, and civil society institutions within the framework of the "Peace Day Efforts". He also noted the "Peace Supporting Package" sponsored by the European Union, which could be extended to the Palestinians, the Israelis, and the region as a whole, contingent upon the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state. He said that the essence of this vision was articulated 23 years ago through the Arab Peace Initiative, which has yet to receive any response from Israel.
Mr. Aboul Gheit stressed that there can be no lasting regional peace or genuine coexistence without ending the Israeli occupation and settlement of Palestinian territories along the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem. He further underscored that the belief held by Israel that normalisation and coexistence can be achieved without ending the occupation and reaching peace with the Palestinians is a complete illusion.
