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Spain pledges support for Palestine at UNSC

January 13, 2015 at 2:10 pm

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo yesterday said that Madrid would continue to support the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights in international forums including the European Union and the UN Security Council, the Anadolu Agency reported.

García-Margallo’s remarks came during a press conference held with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki in Ramallah, West Bank.

“Spain will continue to support the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state and to build strong state institutions that are capable of providing better services for their citizens,” García-Margallo said.

Spain became a member of the UN Security Council earlier this year.

Palestinian President spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeinah said earlier that the Palestinian leadership is considering a return to the UN Security Council following the recent failure to pass a resolution that ends the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories within two years.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Al-Maliki welcomed the Spanish support, calling for the European parliamentary and popular support to be translated in to official recognition of the State of Palestine.

Al-Maliki demanded pressure be placed on Israel to release Palestinian tax money. He also called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to stop its violations and incitement against the Palestinian people which contradicts all international treaties and conventions.

The Israeli government continues withholding Palestinian tax money which amounts to nearly $170 million in response to the Palestinian request to join the ICC earlier this month.

Al-Maliki and his Spanish counterpart signed two agreements to promote partnership between the two countries; the first agreement focuses on the Palestinian-Spanish partnership for 2015-2017 and the second to grow the development sector.

The Spanish minister arrived in Ramallah yesterday afternoon and met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. He is scheduled to visit Israel and the Gaza Strip today.