BETHLEHEM, Thursday, January 23, 2020 (WAFA) – Nabil Abu Rudeinah, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, said today that the expected visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Palestine later today is evidence of the strong Palestinian-Russian relations dating back to tens of years ago.

Abu Rudeinah praised the historical Palestinian-Russian relations which he said have manifested in various fields, including the diplomatic and political levels.

“The meeting that will take place today between presidents Mahmoud Abbas and [Vladimir] Putin is of great importance, and is a message from the Russian President to Israel and the entire world that Russia stands firmly on the side of the Palestinian people, its just cause and its right to statehood with East Jerusalem as capital [of Palestine]," the presidential spokesman said in a press release.

Abu Rudeinah also hailed yesterday’s visit of French President Manuel Macron to Palestine and underscored the robust Palestinian-French relations, as well as the positive role France has played in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

On the due Palestinian legislative and presidential elections, Abu Rudeinah reiterated the firm position of the leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas that no elections can be held without the Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem enjoying their right to vote.

He said the Palestinian leadership has asked Europe and France in particular to pressure the Israeli occupation to allow Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem to cast their votes in the elections, as done 20 years ago when the legislative and presidential elections took place in East Jerusalem, together with the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.

“There will be no peace nor an agreement without Jerusalem. We are committed to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and no relations [will be resumed] with America and Israel without Jerusalem, and unless Israel agrees to that, there will be no peace and stability for anyone,” he concluded.

M.N