ASHRAWI MEETS WITH EU,UK OFFICIAL CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE

Bethlehem, 23 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/14 January 2015 (MINA) – During the meetings with the European Union and British officials, PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi stressed the importance of ending the Israeli occupation, a statement said Tuesday.

At the PLO headquarters in Ramallah, Ashrawi met with John Gatt-Rutter, the EU representative to the West Bank, Gaza, and the UN agency for Palestine refugees, and also with Nick Astbury, the deputy head of the British Consulate-General in New York, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Achieving a lasting peace based on the two-state solution is not contingent on the outcome of negotiations,” Ashrawi said.

“Ending the military occupation of Palestine, its people, and resources remains the key to ensuring justice, peace, and security.”

In her meeting with Gatt-Rutter, she said: “In light of Israel’s flagrant and willful violations of international law and consensus, it has become vital for the European Union to exhibit the political will and determination to hold Israel accountable.”

“It is also imperative that Europe supports our efforts at the United Nations and undertakes serious and meaningful political steps to ensure a resolution that is both just and viable before it is too late,” Ashrawi said, according to the statement.

“We call on the European Union to continue its efforts in promoting governmental policies in line with human rights and in terminating projects and activities with links to the military occupation and to the illegal settlement enterprise,” she added.

“We will remain undeterred in our efforts to counter Israeli violations and to safeguard the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and freedom by resorting to all venues of international judicial accountability for Israel.”(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)