Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is visiting the European Parliament in Brussels, met with leaders of the Union, during which he urged them to elevate pressure on Israel to restart the long-stalled political process. Following meetings with European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, the Palestinian leader stressed in a Press conference that he is ready for a peace agreement with Israel and wants to work together with the EU and United States toward a two-state solution.
“Peace and stability can only be reached with relations of good neighbors and this is precisely what we are ready to do, to be good neighbors, and we are hoping that the Israelis and the people of Israel, will not miss this opportunity in order to make peace,” said Abbas.
The tour of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Europe, in an apparent effort to bolster EU support for the Palestinian position, comes as the United States is advancing in talks with Israel to set a foundation that would lead to a resumption of peace negotiations. Even though Washington and Jerusalem have yet to agree on all core principles and are still holding meetings on the matter of Israel’s settlement policy on lands the Palestinians demand for their future state, both the Trump Administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office have cited progress.