PM: Palestinians want independent state, not improved conditions under occupation

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said the Palestinian people want to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital and not the improvement of living conditions under occupation.

“We welcome any international initiative to resolve the conflict, based on international law and United Nations resolutions,” Shtayyeh said, adding that “in light of the current political vacuum, the international community must protect the two-state solution from eroding and there is an opportunity to end the occupation before sliding towards one state; the apartheid state.”

Shtayyeh stressed that any peace initiative needs clear references, a specific time frame and good intentions from all parties, in addition to an honest peace broker, and a number of confidence-building measures which none of the previous US administrations have provided.

He explained that the new US administration has restored relations with the Palestinian leadership, resumed funding for UNRWA, and will reopen the US Consulate in East Jerusalem, but it has not yet presented an initiative or plan for peace.

Shtayyeh stressed that despite all attempts by the previous Israeli government to divert attention from the Palestinian issue, it will remain the central issue in the region.

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