RAMALLAH, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 – President Mahmoud Abbas warned today that the current situation has become untenable due to Israel’s continued settler-colonial and repressive policies.

Speaking during a meeting with Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, President Abbas briefed Linde on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena, stressing that the situation cannot continue as long as Israel insists on pursuing its settlement expansion and oppressive measures against the Palestinian people.

He underscored the need to establish comprehensive calm, halt all acts of aggression against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and across the West Bank and Gaza, implement the signed agreements and confidence-building measures, and immediately move toward a peace process under the sponsorship of the International Quartet and in line with United Nations resolutions leading to an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the pre-1967 borders.

President Abbas expressed his appreciation to Sweden for its supportive positions toward the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, including Sweden’s 2014 recognition of the State of Palestine, as well as its ongoing support in international forums and during its tenure on the UN Security Council.

For her part, the Swedish foreign minister reiterated her country’s commitment to supporting efforts to achieve peace and stability based on a negotiated two-state solution.

Linde, whose trip marks the first visit to Palestine by a Swedish foreign minister, also held a separate meeting with her Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Malki.