The Diplomat
The Spanish executive yesterday asked the Israeli government to facilitate “throughout the territory of Palestine” the holding of the elections called by the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, the first in 15 years.
In a communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pedro Sánchez’s government makes this appeal to the Israeli authorities, after expressing its satisfaction at the convening of legislative, presidential and Palestinian National Council elections for 22 May, 31 July and 31 August respectively.
The government, according to the statement, “is confident that these elections will strengthen the democratic process in Palestine and the legitimacy of its institutions, the development of which Spain has been supporting with cooperation programmes”.
“Elections held with full guarantees and in accordance with international principles,” it concludes, “can favour negotiations for a fair and lasting solution based on two states, the Israeli and the Palestinian, living side by side in peace and security”.
