In its most recent attempt at regional mediation, China’s foreign minister informed his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts that his nation is prepared to assist in facilitating peace discussions between the two sides.
The Foreign Ministry said in remarks released late Monday that Qin Gang called the two officials separately on Monday to express China’s concern over rising tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and its support for resuming peace negotiations.
In China, Saudi Arabia and Iran struck a deal this month to reestablish diplomatic ties that had been severed in 2016. It was a pivotal diplomatic moment for China, which Beijing hailed as proof of its capacity to influence Middle Eastern diplomacy.
According to a statement about the phone chat, Qin emphasised in his discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that Saudi Arabia and Iran have provided a positive example of resolving problems through communication.
He explained to Cohen that Beijing pushes both Israel and the Palestinians to exercise political bravery and take action to restart negotiations for peace. He was cited as stating, “China is willing to provide convenience for this.”
In-depth negotiations to end the century-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have not taken place in more than ten years.
In-depth negotiations to end the century-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians have not taken place in more than ten years.
The majority of the international community views Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s commitment to expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal and a barrier to peace, and several of his key allies are adamantly opposed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
