AD endorses Maltese support for Palestinian state

Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed support for the Maltese government’s stance in favour of the creation of a Palestinian state. “AD has consistently been in favour of a two-state solution and peace between Israel and Palestine,” said chairperson Michael Briguglio.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said the Maltese government would show a sense of decisive leadership by joining countries such as EU member states Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden in supporting Palestine’s demand for official statehood recognition at a United Nations level.

“The Maltese government would be on the right sight of history and of justice because the Palestinian people cannot and should not be deprived of their state.

“The ‘two states, two peoples’ formula is the right and just solution for the future, with the Israeli and Palestinian people living in peace as neighbours within safe borders, in mutual respect of each other,” Cassola said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday proposed a roadmap for peace in the Middle East in one year and asked the United Nations to admit Palestine as a non-member state.

Sarkozy, in his speech at the general debate of the UN General Assembly, called upon the Israelis and Palestinians to take "one year to reach a definitive agreement" for peace in the Middle East.

The president said that after 60 years of failure to bring peace to the Middle East, it is time now to change tactics.

“Each of us knows that Palestine cannot immediately obtain full and complete recognition of the status of United Nations member state,” Sarkozy said. “The first reason for this is the lack of trust between the main parties.”

Direct talks between Israel and Palestine stalled in October 2010, when Israel declined to renew a moratorium on its settlement building.

The diplomatic Quartet for Middle East peace, consisting of the UN, the EU, the U.S., and Russia had set the deadline for negotiating a final settlement between Israel and Palestine for September 2011.