CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas met Nov. 30 in Cairo, where they agreed on the need for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to resume.  They also agreed to hold an international peace conference next year bringing together Israel, Palestine and other international parties as well as to advance the Palestinian reconciliation process sponsored by Cairo. Hamas’ political bureau welcomed the announcement.

Israel's Maariv newspaper reported Nov. 30 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Cairo in the coming weeks to meet with Sisi, but a date has not yet been set. According to the paper, officials from the two countries are working to arrange Netanyahu’s visit to Cairo.

Fatah deputy chief Mahmoud al-Aloul said in a press statement Dec. 1 that a joint Jordanian-Egyptian-Palestinian committee will be formed to hold an international peace conference in early 2021, based on President Mahmoud Abbas’ proposal, which he discussed during his meeting with Sisi and the Jordanian king who agreed to it. Abbas met King Abdullah in Amman on Nov. 29 ahead of his visit to Cairo. 

Abbas also communicated his vision for an international peace conference to the UN secretary general and the Arab League. According to a statement by Arab League Assistant Secretary General Hussam Zaki on the sidelines of a meeting between Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Abbas in Cairo on Nov. 30, Aboul Gheit expressed his support for the Palestinian cause and welcomed the Palestinian president’s proposal for a peace conference.