Palestinian FM Stresses Need to Reconsider the Palestinian Issue

Doha, March 24 (QNA) - Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr. Riyad al-Maliki said that there is an Arab-US agreement on the need to reconsider the entire Palestinian issue and to look for new mechanisms to help overcome the troubled path of the peace process. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Palestinian Foreign Minister referred to resolutions already taken during Arab foreign ministers meeting which stress the need to review the entire political file, after the current situation reached a dead end without achieving any real results that help the Palestinian people achieve their goals. The Palestinian Minister added that Arab League Secretary-General Dr. Nabil Elaraby had discussed several ideas with many European officials as well as US Secretary of State John Kerry and felt that there was a mutual understanding that there are many obstacles hindering the path of the peace process and direct negotiations. He pointed out that US President Barack Obama himself admitted this fact when he said during his recent visit to the Palestinian territories that the efforts made to advance the process of negotiations did not succeed. The Minister noted that there was a proposal to form a ministerial delegation with participation of the Arab League Secretary-General to visit some world capitals, specifically the permanent members of the Security Council and the United Nations, to discuss the Palestinian issue and coordinate with the permanent member states in this regard, adding that HE Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani informed him during the last meeting of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers at the beginning of this month that there is a near consensus on the formation of such a ministerial delegation to pay visits to the major capitals. The Palestinian Foreign Minister noted that the upcoming Arab Summit is being held amidst critical circumstance in the Arab region that needs solidarity and joint Arab action. He hailed the distinct and strong relationship between Qatar and Palestine, and wished Qatar success in its presidency of the Arab Summit which will be difficult due to the critical and complex Arab situation. (QNA)