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Ammon News - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi participated on Saturday in the fifth ministerial meeting within the framework of the Munich Group, along with counterparts, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Germany's Annalena Baerbock and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.

During the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the ministers agreed to continue coordination and consultation to find a real political horizon to kickstart serious and effective negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel to arrive at a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

They said in a statement that the meeting was to resume efforts to push forward the Middle East peace process towards achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting efforts to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fulfills the legitimate rights of all parties on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with the international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed upon terms of reference, including the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

The statement expressed concern over rising tension on the ground and the urgent need to resume serious, effective and direct negotiations between the parties, or under the umbrella of the United Nations and the Middle East Quartet of peace brokers.

It emphasized the importance of finding political and economic horizons and taking further confidence-building measures based on reciprocal commitments to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people and resume meaningful negotiations.

The statement called for halting all unilateral steps that undermine the two-state solution and prospects for a just and lasting peace, especially the construction and expansion of Jewish settlements, the confiscation of land, the eviction of Palestinians from their homes, including in East Jerusalem, and the cessation of violence and incitement. It also called for respecting the rights of the residents of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods to their homes.

The statement also called for safeguarding the existing historical and legal status quo in the holy places in Jerusalem and the historical Hashemite custodianship over the holy shrines.

The minister also emphasized the key role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the need to continue financial and political support to enable it to provide vital services to Palestinian refugees under its UN mandate.

They stressed the importance of all peace treaties between Arab states and Israel in contributing to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution to bring about comprehensive and lasting peace.

The Ministers agreed to continue working with all parties to find real prospects for resuming a credible political process, and stressed, in this context, that achieving a just and lasting peace is a strategic goal that is in the interest of all parties and the key to regional security and stability.