Spanish FM Albares says two-state solution ‘only way’ to ensure peace in region, and that he would be ‘delighted’ if Israel took part in talks, despite not being invited
MADRID, Spain — Ministers from Muslim and European countries, along with the European Union’s foreign affairs chief, gathered Friday in Madrid to discuss advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Together, we want to identify the concrete actions that will enable us to make progress toward this objective,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X.
“The international community must take a decisive step toward a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” he added.
Sanchez welcomed participants at his official residence before the start of the meeting at the foreign ministry in central Madrid, hosted by his top diplomat Jose Manuel Albares.
In attendance were Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — all members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza — as well as the heads of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In addition to Spain, the European Union was represented by its foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and the foreign ministers of Ireland, Norway and Slovenia.