حسين الشيخ Hussein Al Sheikh@HusseinSheikhpl
Today, I met in Athens with H.E. Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the presence of the Head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, Majid Faraj, the President’s Advisor, Majdi Al Khalidi, and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Greece, Yussef Dorkhom.
During the meeting, I conveyed the greetings of H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas and his deep appreciation for the friendly relations between our two countries and peoples and for Greece's supportive stances towards Palestine in international forums and its humanitarian assistance.
We discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and reviewed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the region. I emphasized the threat of the ongoing Israeli escalation in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, driven by settlement expansion, annexation attempts, and settler terrorism. I also called for the immediate release of Palestinian clearance revenues withheld by Israel.
Moreover, I called for the freedom of access for worshippers to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and for the preservation of the legal and historical status quo of the holy sites. In addition, I highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, given the ongoing siege and closure of crossings.
I reiterated the State of Palestine’s welcome of President Trump’s plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, emphasizing the importance of activating the liaison office between the Palestinian government and the executive bodies of the Board of Peace. I further stressed the importance of implementing the second phase, proceeding with recovery and reconstruction efforts toward a political solution in line with international legitimacy.
Furthermore, we stressed the unity of the Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, rejecting any attempts to separate the Gaza Strip as its an integral part of the State of Palestine. I reaffirmed our commitment to the principle of one state, one law, and one legitimate armed force, as well as the need to unify Palestinian institutions in Gaza and the West Bank under the umbrella of the Palestinian government.
In addition, I reaffirmed our commitment to advancing reform programs as a national priority. I also reiterated the State of Palestine’s support for a ceasefire and full solidarity with the Gulf States and Jordan in safeguarding their sovereignty, security, and stability against any aggression.
We welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, affirming our support for its sovereignty and stability, and expressed the State of Palestine’s appreciation for Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire.
Finally, we emphasized the importance of continued political coordination with Greece and the European Union, as well as joint efforts to implement the two-state solution. I renewed the call for Greece to recognize the State of Palestine as a step toward achieving peace.
Earlier, at the head of the Palestinian delegation, I also met with H.E. Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
