Sullivan stressed Biden's support for two-state solution in Sisi meeting

• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Published date: 30 September 2021

"Sullivan emphasized President Biden's lifelong commitment to a two-state solution and the importance of tangible steps to improve the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza while developing an atmosphere conducive to political talks," the official said.

Biden has persistently spoken of the importance of two states but has not put forward any peace process to achieve that outcome.

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Sisi's office said that the Egyptian president spoke with Sullivan about the need to arrive at a two-state resolution explaining that it could "have a huge impact on changing the situation on the ground in the entire Middle East."

The two men also spoke of the importance of Gaza reconstruction. Egypt's role in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza following 11 days of fighting between Hamas and Israel in May earned it recognition at a time it was struggling to strike a rapport with US President Joe Biden's administration amid differences on human rights.

The Biden administration said this month it would withhold $130 million worth of military aid to Egypt until Cairo took specific steps on rights. Human rights groups that had called on the US to block $300 in aid expressed disappointment.

On Wednesday, Sullivan reaffirmed Biden's commitment with Sisi to "a constructive dialog on human rights," the senior administration official said.

The delegations discussed "the importance the United States places on securing tangible and lasting improvements in human rights, and in this regard, specific steps in connection...