RAMALLAH, November 26, 2011 (WAFA) – Foreign Minister Riyad Malki Saturday urged to Cyprus as a member of the European Union to intervene and pressure Israel to release Palestinian tax revenue it is withholding to punish the Palestinian Authority, said a foreign ministry press release.

Malki, said after meeting Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, that the Israeli decision to withhold the tax revenues for the second month in a row is a violation of international law and Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

He briefed Kozakou-Marcoullis on the latest developments regarding the Palestinian application for statehood membership in the United Nations Security Council, as well as reconciliation efforts following President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal’s meeting in Cairo on Thursday.

Kozakou-Marcoullis reiterated her country’s support for the Palestinian cause, expressing concern and refusal of all Israeli practices in the Palestinian Territory, including settlement activities, the Apartheid Wall and military checkpoints hindering Palestinian mobility in their land.

She expressed her wish to strengthen bilateral Palestinian- Cypriot relations to include new fields of cooperation following three agreements signed between the two sides in health, agriculture and tourism.

Malki praised Cyprus for voting in favor of Palestinian membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its continuous support for all Palestine-related resolutions.

The two ministers also discussed regional events, especially developments in Syria.

R.Q./M.S