EU states must recognise state of Palestine, insists PA

The prime minister of the Palestinian Authority has insisted that all EU members must recognise the state of Palestine on the 1967 borders, Quds Press reported on Monday. Rami Hamdallah said it is more urgent now than at any other time for such recognition, as that would be a supportive step for the PA leadership in its effort to end the Israeli occupation and save the two-state solution.

Hamdallah made his comments during a meeting with the Palestine Committee of the EU held in the PA headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The EU representative to the PA attended the meeting, during which the prime minister briefed officials about the “continuous Israeli violations” against the Palestinians, the expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements and the demolition of Palestinian facilities in Area C, many of which are EU-funded.

He called for the EU countries to put pressure on Israel to back-down from its decision to legalise settlement “outposts” and the expropriation of private Palestinian land, as well as to stop its violations of international conventions and humanitarian law.

The PA official renewed his thanks to the EU parliament and member states which have already recognised the Palestinian state. He also hailed the EU’s support for the PA budget and vital projects.