RAMALLAH, October 9, 2018 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday received a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel during which he was briefed about the outcomes of Merkel’s meetings with Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

Merkel affirmed Germany and the European Union’s position supporting the realization of peace based on the two-state solution.

She pointed to the fact that the EU has provided considerable financial support to the UN relief agency (UNRWA)  so that it would continue to perform its mandate and voiced her concerns on the conditions in the besieged Gaza Strip.

On his turn, Abbas thanked Germany for its economic support to Palestinian institution-building and the UNRWA.

He briefed Merkel on the latest developments with regards to the relations with Israel and the US and stressed his commitment to political work and non-rejection of negotiations based on the two-state solution along 1967 borders and resolutions of international legitimacy through a multilateral mechanism, such as 5+1.

He affirmed the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to achieve national reconciliation under Egyptian auspices pursuant to the October 2017 Reconciliation Agreement aimed at ending the division and stressed his total rejection of any scheme that entrench the division.

Both leaders agreed to maintain communication and coordination over the next period.

K.F.