Hosting Macron, Abbas urges Europe to recognize State of Palestine

Hosting the French leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has renewed a call for Europe to recognize the State of Palestine with Israeli-occupied East al-Quds as its capital.

According to Press TV, Abbas met with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the pair discussed the latest developments in the peace process and regional affairs.

Abbas highlighted France's role in "saving the political process from the stalemate caused by Israel's intransigence."

He expressed hope that Paris would recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with East al-Quds as its capital.

 “We wish that the European states — that believe in the two-state solution — and France will recognize the State of Palestine along 1967 borders with East [al-Quds] as its capital,” said Abbas.

The recognition of Palestine would be “a true path to saving the French- and European-backed two-state solution and would give hope to our people that achieving peace and stability is possible,” he said.

Abbas also told Macron that he was serious about holding new presidential and parliamentary elections.

He urged France and European Union countries to put pressure on Israel to allow residents of East al-Quds to participate in the vote.

The French President, in turn, said that Paris would continue to support the Palestinian people in building their institutions and economy.

Al-Quds remains at the heart of the decades-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Palestinians want the occupied West Bank as part of their future independent state, and hope that East al-Quds – under Israel’s occupation since 1967 – will one day serve as the capital of their future sovereign state.

However, the Israeli officials insist on maintaining the occupation of Palestinian territories.

ME