President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has affirmed Maldives will always stand behind the Palestinians in their quest for recognition and dignity and will actively advocate their cause on the international stage. The president made the statement during a meeting with Mahmoud Al Habbash, who is currently visiting Maldives as a Special Envoy of Palestinian President Dr. Mahmoud Abbas.
During the meeting held at the President's Office, President Solih warmly received the special envoy and asked him to relay his kindest regards to President Abbas, Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh, the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people.
Special Envoy Al Habbash expressed the Palestinian Government deeply appreciated President Solih's recent Statement at the General Debate of the 74th Annual Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), during which he highlighted the ongoing abuses of the Israeli Government against the people of Palestine and reaffirmed enduring support for Palestinians' aspiration for statehood.
In New York, the president reiterated Maldives hold a long-held belief that peace between the Arab states and Israel can only be achieved through a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as the capital of Palestine.
Al Habbash emphasised that Palestinian statehood is an unalterable precondition for a just and lasting peace in the Levant and for a normalisation of relations with Israel. He further updated President Solih on the ongoing settlement activity of Israel in territory meant for a Palestinian state, creating ground realities unamenable to a just and enduring peaceful two-state solution.
During the call, the special envoy presented President Solih with a letter on behalf of the Palestinian President. Further, the two discussed the possibility of President Solih making a visit to the old city in Jerusalem at an appropriate future date.