Chris MacManus MEP welcomes general election in Palestine

Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands North-West, Chris MacManus, welcomed the announcement that general elections would take place in Palestine within six months.

Speaking following the news, MacManus said:

“This is a crucial time for Palestine, with the destructive Israeli occupation ongoing, and with the normalisation of relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We in Sinn Fein support the self-determination of the Palestinian people and their right to free and fair elections. The agreement reached amongst Palestinian parties to hold a general election in Palestine within six months is a significant development. I hope this step will reinforce the unity of the Palestinian people and mend division.

“I believe the Palestinian elections will be a stepping stone towards the resumption of meaningful negotiations and the achievement of a two-state solution based on international law, including a Palestinian State within the 1967 borders and with its capital in East Jerusalem, as the European Union has supported for so many years.

“I call on the EU to take further action to ensure that Palestine is free of Israeli occupation, including banning the use of goods from Israeli settlements. I call on EU institutions and Member State governments, to support the right of the Palestinian people to express their democratic will and to recognise the strength of support for Palestinian self-determination. The international community cannot allow Israel to occupy Palestinian territory with impunity.” ENDS