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Shtayyeh Calls on EU to Recognize Palestinian State

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh held a meeting Wednesday with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels (WAFA)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh held a meeting Wednesday with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels (WAFA)
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Shtayyeh Calls on EU to Recognize Palestinian State

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh held a meeting Wednesday with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels (WAFA)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh held a meeting Wednesday with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels (WAFA)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Wednesday urged European Union countries to salvage the two-state solution, increase their support for the Palestinians and to recognize the State of Palestine.

During a meeting in the Belgian capital, Brussels, with Arab ambassadors to the EU, Shtayyeh discussed the difficult economic and financial situation in the Palestinian territories, due to the Israeli measures imposed on the Palestinian people and the lack of foreign funding, in addition to the illegal Israeli deductions from the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, to offset stipends paid to militants and their families.

Shtayyeh said President Mahmoud Abbas insists to hold elections across the Palestinian Territories, stressing that the voting is considered a Palestinian issue, which the Authority is keen to hold.

“This is not only an American or European demand,” Shtayyeh said, calling on the international community, particularly the US and Europe to put real pressure on Tel Aviv to allow the elections to be held in Jerusalem, including allowing Jerusalemites to cast their votes, and run as electoral candidates.

Also on Wednesday, Shtayyeh held a meeting with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

The PM renewed his call on the EU to hold European settlers who live in settlements accountable, in accordance with the principles of the EU, which considers settlements illegal and contrary to international law.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.