Abbas to Visit Germany, Mobilize Support for Palestine’s Full UN Membership

A Palestinian waves a national flag during clashes with Israeli forces over settlement activity in the West Bank. (Reuters)
A Palestinian waves a national flag during clashes with Israeli forces over settlement activity in the West Bank. (Reuters)
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Abbas to Visit Germany, Mobilize Support for Palestine’s Full UN Membership

A Palestinian waves a national flag during clashes with Israeli forces over settlement activity in the West Bank. (Reuters)
A Palestinian waves a national flag during clashes with Israeli forces over settlement activity in the West Bank. (Reuters)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking to mobilize international support to obtain full membership for the Palestinian state in the United Nations.

Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee Hussein al-Sheikh said Abbas is scheduled to visit Germany in mid-August to tackle the issue.

Al-Sheikh held talks with head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah Oliver Owcza on the bilateral ties and preparations for Abbas’s trip.

Meanwhile, Fatah deputy chief Mahmoud al-Aloul said the Palestinians have countless political options to respond to Israeli crimes, including withdrawing recognition of Israel.

In remarks to Voice of Palestine radio station, Aloul deemed as “unacceptable” the recognition of Israel and upholding of existing agreements while Tel Aviv does not acknowledge Palestinian rights and the two-state solution and continues to commit crimes against Palestinians.

Aloul cited several potential measures against Israel, which Abbas froze ahead of his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Bethlehem in mid-July in the hopes of advancing the peace process, but that did not happen.

In February, the Central Council decided to suspend Palestine’s recognition of Israel until it recognizes the state of Palestine according to the June 4, 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

Discussions have intensified in recent weeks over the measures, which also including ending all PLO and Palestinian Authority agreements with Israel and suspending all forms of security coordination.

Aloul said Abbas will focus during his talks in Germany on obtaining full Palestinian membership at the UN.



Greek PM: Greece Wants to Cooperate with Libya to Stop Migration

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives to attend the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives to attend the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
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Greek PM: Greece Wants to Cooperate with Libya to Stop Migration

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives to attend the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrives to attend the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP)

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Greece is looking to cooperate with Libya to halt migration flows.

"I will inform my colleagues over the significant increase in the number of people from eastern Libya and ask for the support of the European Commission so that the issue can be addressed immediately," he said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.

He added that Libyan authorities should cooperate with Europe to stop migrants sailing from Libya.