Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he was serious about reaching a peace agreement with Israel so that the two countries could live side by side with security and stability, based on the June 4, 1967 borders.
“We want to reach peace through negotiations, and our position has not changed for a long time,” Abbas said during a meeting with British Prince William at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.
The Duke of Cambridge arrived in Ramallah from Israel, after a busy program there, during which he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who conveyed a message to Abbas on the need to end the conflict and achieve peace.
Prince William received an official reception at the presidential headquarters before meeting with Abbas, who expressed his hope that his visit would not be the last.
“We hope this will not be your last visit. We hope you will visit us when the Palestinian people achieve their independence. We believe that this visit will strengthen the friendly relations between the Palestinian and British people. We are always in need of the support of the British people for the sake of our just cause,” Abbas said, addressing the prince.
The Palestinian president highly valued the British government’s support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), describing it as an important indication in these circumstances.
Abbas also pledged that Palestine would stand against terrorism in all its forms.
“We are committed to combating terrorism locally, regionally and internationally. Therefore we are in contact with all the countries in the world on this issue,” he stated.
William, for his part, told the Palestinian president that he was “very glad that our two countries work so closely together and have had success stories with education and relief work in the past. So long may that continue.”
On Abbas’ commitment to peace, the prince said: “My sentiment is the same as yours in hoping there is a lasting peace for the region.”
William visited Jalazone refugee camp north of Ramallah and inspected a United Nations medical facility providing free services to refugees in the camp.
He is the first representative of the British royal family to visit Ramallah. His official tour to the Middle East began in Jordan, then Israel, to which he returned on Tuesday.
