CAIRO, Feb 16, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told 
the head of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder on Sunday that the 
establishment of a Palestinian state is "the only guarantee" for lasting 
peace in the Middle East.

During his meeting with Lauder in Cairo on Sunday, Sisi called for starting 
the reconstruction of war-battered Gaza "without displacing its residents 
from their land", according to a statement from his office.

The Egyptian leader's remarks come as Arab countries are scrambling to come 
up with an alternative to a controversial plan floated by US President Donald 
Trump to take over Gaza, redevelop the coastal territory and turn it into the 
"Riviera of the Middle East".

Trump's proposal envisages permanently resettling Gaza's Palestinian 
residents elsewhere, including Egypt and Jordan, drawing widespread 
condemnation from Arab and world leaders.

"The establishment of a Palestinian state... is the only guarantee to achieve 
lasting peace," Sisi told Lauder on Sunday.

According to the Egyptian presidency statement, Lauder praised Egypt's "wise 
efforts" to restore stability in the region.

The leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to 
met in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss Trump's proposal, ahead of an emergency 
Arab League summit in Cairo a week later to discuss the same issue.