On Monday, president Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority swore in a new government with the aim to reunite the West Bank and Gaza Strip after seven years of political and social division. The ceremony came six weeks after the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Hamas movement, which had ruled Gaza since 2007, signed a pact paving the way for the new government.
Commenting on the new Palestinian government, S&D Group president, Hannes Swoboda said:
“The new Palestinian government is a chance for Palestinians to fight for the interests of all Palestinians in a united way.
“It is good that all members of the new government are accepting the basic and agreed conditions to find a peace agreement with Israel. It should be the start to thinking of steps towards peace for the whole Palestinian territory: Westbank and Gaza.
“It is particularly important that living conditions and freedom of movement for all Palestinians are improved. But it is equally important to guarantee the security of all citizens of Palestine and Israel”.
