PA Prime Minister asks EU to boycott Israeli products while saying that the lack of peace is Israel's fault
Headline: “Shtayyeh: We have a serious desire to hold elections, this is a national right”
“[PA] Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh called on the European Union (EU) to fulfill an active role in any future political process, in order to break the reality that the Palestinian cause is in due to the occupation’s steps and the American monopoly on mediating the peace process. This is by means of an international conference, in which all the sides will participate. He said this yesterday [Oct. 12, 2020], during a video conference meeting with the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, in the presence of approximately 80 members representing the various parties and states…
He also called on the European Union (EU) states to recognize the Palestinian state, and to increase the cost of the occupation by moving from labeling products from the settlements to a full boycott of them, and he noted: ‘The occupation in its current structure is profitable for Israel because it is expropriating lands, water, and manpower without any cost.’
The prime minister said: ‘Our people, which is collapsing under occupation, is the one that profits the most from a just political solution.
It is an injustice to say that the Palestinian leadership has squandered every opportunity (refers to former Saudi Ambassador to the US Prince Bandar bin Sultan’s criticism of the Palestinian leadership in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV in early October 2020 –Ed.), because we have not merited any kind of opportunity that rises to the level that meets our people’s rights – the establishment of an independent state in the 1967 borders whose capital is Jerusalem, and a just resolution of the refugees’ problem. Currently there is no serious peace partner in Israel.’ He explained: ‘The normalization that a number of Arab states [have established with Israel] (see note below –Ed.) does not serve the paradigm of land for peace, which ensures the end of the Israeli occupation of our lands that were occupied in 1967 – and this is the essence of the Arab [Peace] Initiative; [the normalization] reflects the Israeli outlook: peace for free while the occupation continues.’ …
In his response to a number of questions, the prime minister said: ‘The PA is a central component in the Palestinian people’s struggle for its rights. It exists to defend the people and move on to the stage of an independent and sovereign state whose capital is Jerusalem. Israel must guarantee the security of the State of Palestine and its people, and not demand that the people who are under occupation guarantee the security of the occupier.’ He emphasized that the PA will remain loyal to the families of the prisoners and the Martyrs, and will continue to give the allowances that enable these families to live in dignity.”