Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s new foreign affairs chief, has made calls for Palestinian statehood during a visit to Gaza on Saturday.
“We need a Palestinian state, that is the ultimate goal and this is the position of all the European Union,” she stated adding that another war in Gaza cannot be afforded.
In remarks made ahead of her meeting with Israeli Prime MinsiterBenjamin Netanyahu, she urged the dissolution of tensions.
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“It would be good if we all managed to lower tensions, verbal and on the ground. What is happening and what has happened here in Jerusalem in the last week is extremely worrying,” she stated on Friday
Press TV reported earlier in the week:- ‘The European Union (EU)’s newly appointed foreign policy chief has called for the creation of a Palestinian state within the five years of her term in office.
Speaking to journalists from some European newspapers on Tuesday, Federica Mogherini said simple recognition of the Palestinian state by European countries like Sweden is not enough.
“I would be happy if by the end of my term, a Palestinian state existed,” the former Italian foreign minister said.
She said the EU seeks to adopt a broad regional policy with respect to the Middle East and work toward a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The top diplomat is scheduled to visit the Middle East this weekend. During her two-day trip, Mogherini is set to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Earlier this month, the Swedish government officially recognized Palestine as an independent state, confirming the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Sweden became the first major European country to officially recognize the state of Palestine.
Israel, irked by the announcement, summoned the Swedish ambassador to Israel to protest against the decision.
European countries among the 130 other states that have already recognized a Palestinian State, include Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East al-Quds (Jerusalem), and the besieged Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.
In November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine’s status at the UN from “non-member observer entity” to “non-member observer state” despite strong opposition from Israel and the US.
The upgrade allows the Palestinians to participate in debates at the UN General Assembly and improve their chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court (ICC) where they could file complaints against Israel.
