Under the chairmanship of MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, the first meeting of the Bureau and the Extended Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA-UfM) was convened in Sharm El-Sheikh, following Egypt’s official assumption of the Assembly’s presidency in June MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein was elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, marking a new phase in Egypt’s parliamentary leadership at the regional and Euro-Mediterranean levels.
The meeting was attended by representatives from around eight countries, including delegates from the European Union, as well as Deputy Speakers of the Parliaments of Morocco, Spain, the European Union, and Italy, in addition to the chairs of specialized committees.
In a televised interview with Extra News Channel, MP Mohamed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, stated that the meeting addressed several pressing issues, with the Palestinian cause taking center stage in the discussions. He emphasized that there was widespread sorrow and anger over the situation, highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people and the attempts to suppress humanitarian conscience worldwide.
Abou El-Enein asked, Who can endure watching the suffering of children, the elderly, and women being forced from their homes under relentless bombardment? The devastation wrought by rockets and artillery is horrifying — a deeply distressing sight for all humanity to witness.
The Need to Resume Negotiations
The Deputy Speaker stressed that all participants agreed on the importance of resuming peace negotiations and reaching a peaceful, just, and comprehensive settlement, guaranteeing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state, and the complete withdrawal from the occupied territories.
Political Outlook
He further noted that the political prospects for de-escalation remain bleak in light of Israel’s continued actions, leaving little hope for achieving peace. Abou El-Enein pointed out that 142 countries at the United Nations have already voted in favor of recognizing an independent State of Palestine, and that the Arab Peace Initiative offers a clear framework: recognition of the State of Israel in exchange for full withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Six Crossings Under Israeli Control
Abou El-Enein underscored that there is no solution other than the two-state solution, calling for exposing the false claims directed against Egypt. He clarified that Israel controls six border crossings, stressing that “it is time for the world to know the truth.”
