Fatah calls for bigger EU role in Middle East

A senior member of Fatah’s Executive Committee called on Monday for the Europeans to be more involved in Middle East issues, the Palestine-Israel conflict and efforts leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state, Quds Press has reported. Nabil Shaath made his comments during a meeting with a delegation representing political parties in the German parliament.

The veteran politician also called on Germany to recognise the State of Palestine. Such a move, he said, would be in line with the decisions of the EU Summit held in 1999 in Berlin, which called for recognition of the state as part of the peace process, regardless of whether or not a political solution had been achieved.

Shaath updated the German delegation about the Israeli occupation policies, ongoing settlement expansion, the tragic situation in Gaza and the continuous aggression against Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, its holy sites, property and citizens.

In the wake of the reduced American role in global politics, Shaath called for Germany to be more involved in Middle East issues and put more pressure on Israel to end its occupation and achieve peace. He pointed out the efforts being conducted by the Palestinian Authority leadership which aim to forge and promote relations with EU countries in all fields.