President Mahmoud Abbas with his guest, Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi, at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. (WAFA Images/Usama Falah)

RAMALLAH, February 15, 2018 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday met Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

Abbas welcomed bin Alawi and commended his visit, which came in response to Abbas’ call for Arabs and Muslims to visit the occupied territories, including Jerusalem. 

He had made his call during the International Conference in Support of Jerusalem, which was hosted by al-Azhar in Cairo, in January.

Abbas also commended Oman, particularly Sultan Qaboos, on his support for the Palestinian people and just Palestinian cause.

He briefed the top Omani diplomat on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena and the stalemate of the peace process following the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the Israeli occupation practices against unarmed Palestinians.

He stressed the importance of establishing a multilateral mechanism that should be announced through an international conference based on the UN resolutions to salvage the peace process.

Bin Alawi reiterated his country’s longstanding support to the Palestinian people’s quest to gain freedom and independence and stressed the importance of his visit in strengthening mutual relations.

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah also met with the Omani Foreign Minister at his office in Ramallah and discussed with him the latest political and economic conditions in Palestine as well as the situation in Israeli-occupied Jerusalem.

Bin Alawi also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of iconic late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

K.F./M.K.