RAMALLAH, Friday, October 30, 2020 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh received at his office in Ramallah today the visiting Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, during which he called on Italy to “break the status quo” and recognize the State of Palestine.

Shtayyeh called on Italy to “break the status quo by recognizing the Palestinian state," in light of what he said was a "systematic destruction of the two-state solution as a result of Israeli settlement activities and the decisions of the US administration that violate international law."

"This is the right time for the European Union and its countries to work to fill the void left by the US administration in the political process by its bias towards Israel, by recognizing Palestine and launching an international conference to solve the Palestinian issue on the basis of international law and UN resolutions," Shtayyeh said during the meeting with the Italian guest.

Meanwhile, Shtayyeh pointed out that the Palestinians were working hard to overcome all obstacles to hold elections and restore national unity and democracy in Palestine, so as to confront all the internal and external challenges facing the Palestinians.

The two parties also discussed the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the two countries and the preventive measures taken so far. Shtayyeh expressed his hope that Palestine would benefit from the vaccine that is being prepared and is expected to be ready for use by the end of this year.

M.N