Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Ramallah: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, held talks in Ramallah with a number of Palestinian officials focused on the developments of the Palestinian issue and current regional and international issues, as part of his visit to the Palestinian territories.
He met with Dr. Saeb Erekat, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Mohammed Ashtayeh and Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatah Central Committee.
The meetings dealt with a number of issues pertaining to the Palestinian issue, especially the situation concerning Jerusalem and developments in this regard in light of the recent US administration's decision on Jerusalem and its impact on the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
In a statement to Omani News Agency (ONA), Dr. Saeb Erekat expressed his satisfaction with the Sultanate's continued support under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, praising the steadfast positions of the Sultanate in supporting the Palestinian position on various tracks and in all international forums to achieve what the Palestinian people aspire to.
He referred to the difficulty of the current situation in the Palestinian territories because of the stalemate in the peace process and the American sponsor's abandonment of his role as an honest broker.
For his part, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs expressed his satisfaction and happiness to visit Palestine to meet with the brothers and listen to their views on the Palestinian issue. He noted that he heard from the Palestinian officials to the consultations and efforts which were made by the Palestinian leadership during the past few months at various international levels, after the recent US administration's decision.
He said," The situation of Jerusalem should be as it is in accordance with the international agreements to be at the end of the negotiations between the two sides," expressing his confidence that "the harder things get, the more chances and the more hope will be for the solution, and the establishment of the State of Palestine has become a strategic matter for the whole world."
On the other hand, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs and his accompanying delegation visited Bethlehem, where he was met in the courtyard of the Church of Nativity by Jibril al-Bakiri, Governor of Bethlehem, Sulaiman Antoine, Mayor of Bethlehem and a number of officials. He visited the Church of the Nativity and was briefed on the Church and the efforts made in the restoration of the Church to preserve its ancient architectural character.
Alawi also visited the City of Hebron. He was received by Tayseer Abu Sinineh, Mayor of Hebron and Kamil Hameed, Governor of Hebron.
He also visited the Ibrahimi Mosque and was briefed on the history of the mosque and what it and the Palestinian worshipers face in terms of the measures taken by the Israeli occupation forces and the obstacles it places in the face of worshipers and visitors.
Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah toured the old town in the direction of Bab al-Zawiya and knew in close about the harassment faced by the Palestinian brothers by the Israeli occupation forces.
He visited Al Quds University in the town of Abu Dis where he was received by Prof. Dr. Imad Abu Kishek, President of the University and a number of officials. He was briefed on the history of the university and its affiliated colleges.
