Lead:
During an official visit to Budapest, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, and explicitly rejected any attempts to alter the demographic or geographic reality in Gaza and the West Bank. The remarks came following meetings with Hungarian President Andras Baka and Prime Minister Peter Macar, as part of broader discussions on bilateral partnership and regional stability.
Details:
The Egyptian President emphasized that sustainable peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian question. According to reporting from El-Balad and El-Fagr, El-Sisi stated that any attempts to change the demographic or geographic situation in Gaza and the West Bank, or to diminish Palestinian rights or displace Palestinians, would have serious consequences. He stressed Egypt's categorical rejection of such efforts and reiterated Cairo's commitment to Palestinian self-determination alongside a secure Israeli state.
Hungarian officials reciprocated the diplomatic engagement. President Andras Baka praised Egypt as an exceptionally important strategic partner and expressed appreciation for El-Sisi's policies across all domains. Prime Minister Peter Macar received El-Sisi at the Hungarian Parliament and presented briefings on Hungary's state symbols, including the sacred crown representing statehood and governance in Hungary.
The bilateral dimension expanded with El-Sisi extending an invitation to the Hungarian President to visit Egypt, which Baka accepted. The two sides discussed implementing the strategic partnership declaration signed in 2023, with emphasis on translating the accord into concrete projects and programs delivering tangible benefits to both peoples. According to El-Balad, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty conducted parallel talks with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban on regional developments and deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
Watch For:
Whether Hungary's acceptance of El-Sisi's invitation materializes into a reciprocal visit within the next six months and what specific joint projects emerge from the partnership framework discussions. Monitoring statements from other Arab League states regarding Egypt's diplomatic positioning on the Palestinian question and whether the two-state formulation gains traction in upcoming regional forums. Tracking whether the strategic partnership produces concrete economic or infrastructure agreements in coming weeks.