EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has called on Israel to release the Palestinian Authority’s tax revenues ‘’to address the critical financial situation faced by the PA’’, following a meeting in Brussels with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
‘’In the immediate term it is absolutely vital to address the critical financial situation of the Palestinian Authority. In this regard, Israel should resume the transfer of Palestinian Authority revenues in line with its obligations,’’ Mogherini said.
Israel froze the Palestinian Authority's tax money after the Palestinian decision to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Abbas met with Mogherini and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. ‘’It was opportunity for President Juncker and myself to restate the EU's support for a two-state solution with an independent, democratic, viable State of Palestine living side-by-side with Israel and its other neighbours in peace and security,’’ Mogherini said.
‘’For this to happen, direct negotiations should start again and the EU is willing to play an active role in the resumption of negotiations on the Middle East Peace Process as soon as possible. I committed to this by convening the Quartet Principals' meeting in Munich on 8 February,’’ she added.
Mogherini also discussed with Abbas ‘’the importance of the process of intra-Palestinian reconciliation, with the aim of resuming governmental control in Gaza.’’
‘’The EU stands by the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority as the cornerstone of a future Palestinian state and a key party to the Middle East Peace Process,’’ Mogherini stressed.
Earlier this week, Abbas visited Sweden, the sole European Union member state to have formally recognized a Palestinian state last October.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Loefven stressed Tuesday that the recognition came with responsibilities. "According to us Palestine is now a state. Our expectations of Palestine and their leadership will therefore increase," he told reporters during Abbas' visit in Stockholm.
"There is no contradiction between keeping good relations with Palestine and keeping good relations with Israel," Loefven added