The new US administration has acknowledged the necessity of a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday. Shoukry's visit focused on building on the recent Cairo-brokered ceasefire in Gaza. In a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, Shoukry said the US administration led by Joe Biden has recognised the importance of a two-state solution and working on achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. "The appropriate mechanisms should be in place to ensure that this objective is achieved and to move forward through cooperation with international partners towards this goal," he said. Shoukry stressed that cooperation between Egypt and Jordan over the Palestinian issue is "indispensable." "We are working through our regional and international ties with our partners, especially the US, on determining prospects for a lasting and fair solution for the Palestinian issue. Otherwise, violence and the suffering of the Palestinian people would recur," he said. Shoukry is in Amman for talks about building on a Cairo-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the 11-day fighting has been deemed the most vicious since 2014. The foreign minister's visit is focused on pinpointing the necessary measures to stabilise the situation in Palestine, a permanent de-escalation in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and creating a climate conducive to the urgent revival of peace negotiations. Shoukry underscored the necessity of maintaining Jerusalem's identity through the Hashemite custodianship over the city's holy sites and preventing repeated assaults on the city. He said violence in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah district was a breach of international law, adding that such practices have led to escalations and a military action between Israel and Hamas. Safadi said Egypt has exerted intensive efforts and achieved a major accomplishment in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and ceasing Israeli violations. He added that Egypt's role will always remain vital in efforts to end the conflict and achieve fair peace that addresses the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. "The Egyptian and Jordanian governments are currently working on ensuring that the ceasefire in Gaza holds and that Israeli violations that have led to the latest escalations are not repeated," he said. Egypt and Jordan are also working on preventing violations at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the latest fighting, he said.
