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.



At Least 7 Killed in Israeli Raid and Airstrikes on West Bank

Israeli military vehicles followed by a military bulldozer operate during an Israeli raid at Al-Farea refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tubas, 05 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli military vehicles followed by a military bulldozer operate during an Israeli raid at Al-Farea refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tubas, 05 November 2024. (EPA)
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At Least 7 Killed in Israeli Raid and Airstrikes on West Bank

Israeli military vehicles followed by a military bulldozer operate during an Israeli raid at Al-Farea refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tubas, 05 November 2024. (EPA)
Israeli military vehicles followed by a military bulldozer operate during an Israeli raid at Al-Farea refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Tubas, 05 November 2024. (EPA)

At least seven people were killed on Tuesday during an Israeli military raid and airstrikes on the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Five of the seven people were killed in two separate Israeli attacks in and near the city of Qabatiya, while the two others were killed in the Tammoun area, the ministry said.

The Israeli military said its aircraft had targeted a group of gunmen and that its forces had arrested 60 fighters.

The Islamic Jihad's armed wing, Al-Quds Brigades, said its fighters had clashed with Israeli forces in both Qabatia and the Tamoun areas.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with almost daily sweeps by Israeli forces that have involved thousands of arrests and regular gunbattles between security forces and Palestinian fighters.