Egypt to use Security Council post to defend Palestinians

Egypt will use its influence as chair of the UN Security Council in May to defend the interests of the Palestinian people, the presidency says.

The pledge, made during talks between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, comes after France called for an international conference later this month to relaunch peace talks.

Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations have been frozen since a US-brokered initiative collapsed in April 2014.

Last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said France will host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on May 30 to try to relaunch the peace process.

Abbas and Sisi discussed “ways of coordinating Arab efforts and the steps that need to be taken within the UN Security Council” as Egypt holds the rotating presidency of the council for the month of May, a statement says.

The two leaders say efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be bolstered in light of regional and international initiatives, including France’s decision to host a conference.

The Palestinian leadership has welcomed the French initiative but Israel opposes it, insisting that direct and unconditional negotiations with the Palestinians are the only way forward.

— AFP