RAMALLAH, February 12, 2018 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi called on the Romanian government to play a proactive role in support of a just peace and the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state. 

This came in light of Romania‘s decision to abstain from the UNGA resolution rejecting US President Donald Trump‘s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital.

Ashrawi received Romania‘s Representative to Palestine Catalin Tirlea at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah, where both parties discussed the latest political developments, in particular America‘s moves regarding Jerusalem and its deliberate breach of the global rule of law.

They further reviewed the history between Palestine and Romania and how to enhance relations between the two countries, and addressed the Romanian Representative Office‘s current programs in Palestine.

Ashrawi also addressed Israel‘s most recent violations throughout the occupied West Bank, primarily the rapid escalation of its illegal settlements in and around Jerusalem and how the US administration‘s negative policies on refugees, Jerusalem and other core issues have emboldened Israel to step up its unlawful and cruel policies including its settlement activities, home demolitions and excessive use of violence. 

She stressed the imperative of multilateral engagement and the need for the European Union to undertake serious political and economic measures to hold Israel accountable and to enhance Palestinian resilience.   

In a separate meeting, Ashrawi received Thomas Birringer, the head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Germany, and briefed him on the latest developments on the ground.

Both parties reviewed the relations between Palestine and Germany and discussed ways to create greater understanding between the two countries.

They also assessed the positive contributions Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has made to Palestine and discussed current and future initiatives.

T.R./M.H.