Arab and European diplomats try to revive Middle East peace process

Diplomats announce potential 'small steps' towards peace after Israeli and Palestinian elections

From left to right, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speak to the media during a press conference in Paris. AP

French European and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks without a potective facemask during a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, at the quai d'Orsay, in Paris. EPA

Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, wearing a protective mask, attends a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, in Paris. Reuters

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, wearing a protective face mask, attends a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, in Paris. Reuters

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, wearing a protective face mask, attends a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, in Paris. Reuters

French European and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attends a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, in Paris. Reuters

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, French European and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi speak during a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, at the quai d'Orsay, in Paris. EPA

Leading European and Arab diplomats on Thursday announced potential "small steps" towards reviving Middle East peace efforts after Israeli and Palestinian elections.

The officials – from the United Nations, European Union, Egypt, Jordan, Germany and France – did not release any details. The meeting came amid new tensions between Israel and Arab countries over Jerusalem.

There have not been any serious Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in more than a decade and it is unclear what the diplomats can do to create conditions to bring the two sides together, especially without the participation of the United States.

President Joe Biden's administration called on both sides to refrain from unilateral steps that could harm peace efforts but has yet to announce any concrete US effort to resolve the decades-old conflict as it focuses on the coronavirus, the economy and other domestic issues.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the importance of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a call with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

"We are going to initiate meetings with both parties within a timeframe built around the electoral calendar to identify, with them, the steps they are in a position to take to kick-start mutual trust," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. He mentioned possible health and economic measures, but did not elaborate.

Any moves will depend on the outcome of the Israeli election on March 23, as well as the Palestinian elections later this year.

The election results could complicate relations, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, emphasising the importance of pursuing dialogue in the meantime. "It is very important that the subject remains on the agenda," he said.

The Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers, Sameh Shoukry and Ayaman Al Safadi, called for efforts "to save the two-state solution".

The new US special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, also attended Thursday's talks.