MUNICH: Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh discussed today with the Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide international efforts to immediately stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
During a meeting at the headquarters of the Munich Security Conference, Shtayyeh warned that any Israeli invasion into Rafah would have catastrophic consequences after most of the Strip’s population were trapped there as a result of the ongoing attacks and massacres aimed at pushing them out of the area. He called for a stronger international stance to prevent such an invasion.
He said that the priority is to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and to open all crossings with Gaza to bring in aid in order to respond to the urgent needs of people there.
Shtayyeh called on Norway, as Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), the international donor group for Palestine, to lead a European effort to recognize t
he State of Palestine, especially as several countries are convinced of the necessity of recognizing Palestine as a state to commence a political path.
The Prime Minister stressed the impossibility of returning to a political process without a clear frame, especially with the absence of a partner in Israel, affirming that what is required is the recognition of the state of Palestine, its full membership in the United Nations, and a UN resolution with a program to end the occupation.
Shtayyeh also called for taking concrete steps towards imposing sanctions on Israel for its continued aggression, colonialism and occupation, urging for boycotting colonies and colonists.
He said Norway was clear in its position calling for an early ceasefire, stating that while Norway stood by truth, justice and international law in a historic humanitarian moment, others supported what Israel was committing. He appreciated Norway’s role in mediating the issue of Israel’s withholding of Palestinian clearing funds.
Although the
money will not be transferred to the Palestinian Authority and thus the financial crisis still exists, he said, its presence in a friendly country is better than remaining withheld by the occupation.
The Prime Minister noted that the genocide in Gaza is not only about killing, destroying, preventing basic services and preventing access to food and medicine, but it is also about preventing the government from providing financial benefits to those who are entitled to them in the Gaza Strip.
For his part, the Norwegian Foreign Minister affirmed his country’s continued support for establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with UN laws and resolutions, adding that his country wants an immediate ceasefire and to see a horizon for a political solution.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem, and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Germany, Laith Arafa.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WA
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