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Sisi, Abbas to continue consultations over peace challenges

Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
CAIRO, Dec 11 (KUNA) -- Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have agreed on continuing consultation and coordination for facing the threats to the Middle East peace process.
The two leaders have also underlined the importance of the Palestinian reconciliation to build a united Palestinian front in face of challenges, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radhy said in a press statement following the two leaders' meeting in Cairo Monday.
He pointed out that President Al-Sisi and President Abbas called for seizing the opportunity of the international community's rejection of US President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital to galvanize international support for the Palestinian right to have their own independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Radhy noted that the two leaders held extensive talks about the US decision to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer the US embassy there.
During the meeting, President Abbas stated that the US president's decision was "surprising" considering the "flexibility" that the Palestinian Authority had shown in order to revive the peace process.
For his part, President Al-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of any attempt to change status quo in Jerusalem. (end) esm.ibi