RAMALLAH, January 18, 2018 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi Tuesday stressed the need for the European Union to exhibit the political will necessary to bring an end to the occupation and to bring about the two-state solution with the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Ashrawi met with the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in Palestine Peter Beerwerth and his team at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah and the Norwegian Representative Hilde Haraldstad, in two separate meetings.

At the beginning of the meeting with the German representative Beerwerth, Ashrawi extended her gratitude to Germany for voting in favor of the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital.

Both parties reviewed the latest political and domestic developments, including President Mahmoud Abbas‘ recent speech and the conclusions of the Palestinian Central Council meeting. They also discussed means of implementing the decisions adopted by the Palestinian Central Council and their implications.

Ashrawi urged European countries and others to engage positively given the critical conditions on the ground and to undertake serious and concrete measures to hold Israel accountable, to recognize Palestine, and to initiate steps to end the occupation and empower Palestinian statehood.

They also reviewed the internal situation, as well as the latest developments concerning reconciliation and elections as a means for Palestinian empowerment.

Both parties emphasized the special relationship between Palestine and Norway and Norwegian support for civil society initiatives in Palestine despite Israeli pressures.

In her meeting with the Norwegian Representative Haraldstad, Ashrawi expressed her appreciation to the Norwegian government for its continued support of Palestine at the United Nations and its firm commitment to the two-state solution and a just peace.

She presented a thorough analysis of the current political situation and the major challenges to the chances for peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state due to Israel‘s persistent violations of international law and conventions.

The discussion focused on the latest international and regional developments, as well as the imperative of recognition of Palestinian statehood, continued support of cooperation agreements and increasing support of UNRWA.

M.H.