The German-Palestinian Inter-Ministerial Meeting aims to enhance and coordinate the German-Palestinian cooperation in various fields. The fifth meeting was held yesterday via video conference with the participation of senior Ministers from both sides.

 

Ramallah- Prime Minister's Office: Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh urged the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to put Germany's economic weight behind its political position in support of the two-state solution and to face the Israeli threat to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Israel's annexation plans violate international law and resolutions and will end the possibility of establishing the State of Palestine and threaten the security and stability of the region.

 

During the meeting, Dr. Shtayyeh said, "This is a decisive moment for the Palestinian issue and the entire international community. What is required is to hold Israel accountable and not to allow it to be above international law as it continues to destroy the possibility of the establishment of the State of Palestine through its policies and daily violations of arrests, killings, and land confiscations." The Prime Minister noted that the Palestinian leadership would convene this evening to make decisions concerning the Israeli annexation announcement.

 

Dr. Shtayyeh added, "We want to work together to break the de- facto reality imposed by Israel. We call on Germany to lead a serious European effort that takes us to a new path through an international conference for Palestine. Bilateral negotiations were proved unsuccessful due to the continuous Israeli violations of signed agreements and the U.S. losing credibility as an honest broker for peace."

 

He continued: "From day one, Germany has been our partner and one of the most significant supporters to building the State institutions towards independence- not to consecrate the fait accompli Israel wants. In completion of these efforts, and in light of the Israeli threat to destroy them, the time has come for Germany to recognize The State of Palestine as a practical translation of its political position and continuous effort in support of the two-state solution."

 

"The coalition government in Israel is not a coalition of peace; it is a coalition of annexation and expansion. The debate within Israel is not about the legality aspect of annexation but revolves around the areas to be annexed. No positive statement was issued from this coalition or its members. What is being issued is negative and threatens our people's rights and violates international law."

 

Both sides have also discussed the unprecedented challenge posed to the world by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the German and Palestinian people, and the need for regional and international cooperation to succeed in containing it and dealing with its socio-economic impacts.

 

Dr. Shtayyeh thanked Germany for its continuous support to Palestine, especially in dealing with the pandemic, including funding hospitals in East Jerusalem, purchasing protective equipment and equipment for medical laboratories, and providing 20 million euros in support of UNRWA.