German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who met with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Berlin, declared that Germany remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“It is a conflict that has not been forgotten and must not be forgotten. Peace between Israel and the Palestinians is not just something wanted by the region, by the Palestinians – it remains our desire in Germany and we maintain that the realization of the two-state solution is the only way to guarantee long-term peace and stability in this part of the world. Therefore, that remains the guiding principle of our policy,” said the German FM.
During their joint press conference, the Palestinian prime Minister called for “strong and serious international action to end,” what he defined as, “the Israeli military occupation of Palestine,” while claiming the Palestinians were still committed to a two-state solution, but claiming that Israeli settlement expansion was eroding its viability.
“The Israeli continued policy of land confiscation, isolation of Jerusalem, imprisoning of our children, the siege of Gaza and the deliberate and continued denial of Palestinian human rights is making the two-state solution unattainable without strong and serious international action to end the Israeli military occupation of Palestine. During our discussions today with Mr. Steinmeier, we agreed to cooperate with a view to advancing the two-state solution on the ground and demonstrate through policies and actions our genuine commitment to the two-state solution. We also agreed that the continuing Israeli policy of settlement expansion and denial of Palestinian development is steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution,” said the Palestinian leader.
In response to the comments made by the Palestinian Prime Minister, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon told TV7 that the true obstacle to the peace process is the lack of Palestinian willingness to recognize the legitimacy of the state of Israel. Nahshon asserted the decades old conflict did not root out of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, rather it prolongs due to Palestinian unwillingness to recognize the legitimacy of a nation state for the Jewish people. Nahshon added that instead of investing energy in inciting the Palestinian public to violence and terrorism, it is time they return to the negotiating table.