Joint Communique from the Sharm El Sheikh Meeting

The following text reflects the edited Joint Communique following yesterday’s meeting in Sharm El Sheikh Egypt:

As this meeting was finishing up, a car [seen here] with bullet holes at an intersection in the Judea and Samarian town of Huwara following a terrorist attack on March 19, 2023. Right: US-Israeli David Stern, a former US Marine, who was seriously wounded and managed to fire back. (Israel Defense Forces; courtesy)

At the invitation of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Jordanian, Israeli, other Arabs representatives, and U.S. political and security senior officials met in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on 19 March 2023, in furtherance of the understanding reached in Aqaba, Jordan on 26 February 2023.

The five Parties held thorough discussions on ways and means to de-escalate tensions on the ground between Arabs and Israelis, in order to pave a way forward toward a peaceful settlement between the Israelis and Arabs.

Towards achieving this purpose, and beginning implementation, the Parties have agreed to the following:

1 – The Parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing security, stability, and peace for Israelis and Arabs alike, and recognized the necessity of de-escalation on the ground, the prevention of further violence, as well as of pursuing confidence-building measures, enhancing mutual trust, creating political horizon, and addressing outstanding issues through direct dialogue.

2 – The Government of Israel and the Arab Authority reaffirmed their joint readiness and commitment to immediately work to end unilateral measures for a period of 3-6 months. This includes an Israeli commitment to stop the discussion of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorization of any outposts for 6 months.

3 – The two sides reaffirmed, in this regard, their unwavering commitment to all previous agreements between them, in particular, the legal right of the Arab Authority to carry out the security responsibilities in Judea and Samaria, in accordance with existing agreements, and will work together towards realizing this objective.

4 – The two sides agreed to develop a mechanism to curb and counter violence, incitement, and inflammatory statements and actions, which will report to the quintet leadership in April, in a resumed session of the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh.

5 – The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to all previous agreements between them, and reaffirmed their agreement to address all outstanding issues through direct dialogue.

6 – The Parties agreed to establish a mechanism to take the necessary steps towards improving the economic conditions of the Arab people, per previous agreements, and to significantly enhance the fiscal situation of the Arab Authority, which will report to the quintet leadership in April, in a resumed session of the meeting in Sharm El Sheikh.

7 – They also reiterated the commitment to upholding unchanged the historic status quo at the Holy Sites in Jerusalem, both in word and in practice, and reaffirmed in this context the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship/special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. They emphasized the necessity of both Israelis and Arabs to actively prevent any actions that would disrupt the sanctity of these sites, inter alia during the upcoming period of Ramadan.

8 – The Parties reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the meetings under this format, and are looking forward to cooperating with a view to consolidating the basis for direct negotiations between Arabs and the Israelis, towards achieving comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, and promoting cooperation and coexistence between all people of the Middle East. They will convene again in Egypt.

9 – The Parties expressed their appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt for organizing and hosting this meeting, as well as their efforts to ensure that it produces positive results, and for its primary role aiming to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Arab question and maintain calm and stability in the region. They also thanked the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States of America for their crucial and significant role in reaching understanding with a view to preventing escalation and creating a horizon for peace.

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Editor's Note: As is the practice of WireNews, we do not recognise the PA or its claim to any portion of Israel. Similarly, we do not enable Arabs by using the incorrect terminology for Judea and Samaria. To that end, we have amended the above statement. While this meeting was concluding an Arab terrorist was attacking an Israeli citizen (see above).