PA's Fayyad urges end to Israeli siege of Gaza
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, May 18, IRNA - The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Salam Fayyad on Tuesday called for lifting the Israeli siege of Gaza.
Speaking at joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin, Fayyad stressed the blockade had to end.
He added the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories were a major hindrance in advancing the inner-Palestinian reconciliation process.
Fayyad said the Palestinian reconciliation initiative was crucial in promoting the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state.
"One of the reasons for the difficulties in internal Palestinian politics is the disappearance of hope that politics can deliver an end to the Israeli occupation," the PA official said.
He reiterated that all Israeli settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem, violated international law.
Backed by the West, Fayyad is currently in Berlin as part the first meeting of the German-Palestinian steering committee aimed at boosting efforts to support the establishment of state institutions in the West Bank.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Fayyad and five other PA ministers took part in the inaugural session of the German-Palestinian steering committee chaired by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
The annual meeting of the German-Palestinian steering committee is to rotate between Berlin and Ramallah.
Germany has also such steering committees with other countries, among them Egypt.
From a diplomatic point of view, these steering committees are below the level of official government consultations.
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