President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has met with a Special Envoy of Palestine’s President Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, this morning at the President’s Office. The Special Envoy, Mahmoud Al Habbash, relayed his warmest greetings on behalf of his President to President Ibrahim Solih and the Government and people of the Maldives.
President Solih in turn warmly received the Special Envoy and asked him to relay his kindest regards to President Abbas, Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh, to the Palestinian National Authority, and to our brothers, the Palestinian people.
The Special Envoy expressed that the Palestinian Government deeply appreciated President Solih’s recent Statement at the General Debate of the 74th Annual Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held in New York, during which he highlighted the ongoing abuses of the Israeli Government against the people of Palestine, and reaffirmed Maldivians’ enduring support for Palestinians' aspiration for statehood.
The President’s Statement had reiterated the Maldives’ Government’s long-held belief that peace between the Arab States and Israel can only be achieved through a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as the capital of Palestine.
President Abbas’s Special Envoy emphasized that Palestinian statehood is an unalterable precondition for a just and lasting peace in the Levant and for a normalization of relations with Israel. He further updated President Solih on the ongoing settlement activity of Israel in territory meant for a Palestinian State, creating ground realities unamenable to a just and enduring peaceful two state solution.
President Solih repeatedly affirmed that the Maldivian people and Government will always stand behind the Palestinian in their quest for recognition and dignity, and will actively advocate their cause on the international stage.
During the call the Special Envoy had presented President Solih with a letter on behalf of the Palestinian President. Further, the two discussed the possibility of President Solih undertaking a visit to the old city in Jerusalem at an appropriate future date.
