Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela will pay an official visit to Israel and Palestine later this month “to discuss ways to further enhance the European Union and bilateral relations as well as to cooperate and help create the right conditions to save the Middle East Peace Process.”

Speaking at an informal working breakfast of the EU28 Foreign Ministers with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Brussels, Minister Abela said that Malta does not choose Israel over Palestine or vice versa but wishes both peoples to be able to live in their own State in mutual recognition, peace, and security.

Discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu took place on the side-lines of the Foreign Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs (Development) Council and were chaired by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

Minister Abela expressed his concern about last week’s announcement by US President Trump on Jerusalem and the repercussions this may have on the prospect of peace. “We believe that the aspirations of the Israelis and the Palestinians must be fulfilled and that a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both States. Malta will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem and our embassy will remain in Tel Aviv until the final status of Jerusalem is resolved”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Council meeting’s agenda included the situation in Iraq, the latest developments in the Middle East, and Libya.

Minister Abela briefed his counterparts on his official visit to Libya on 14 November 2017 during which he held meetings with Muhammed Taher Siala, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Fayez al Sarraj, President of the Presidency Council. The visit served to reaffirm Malta and the international community’s unwavering support to the GNA. Malta remains available to offer its assistance to the GNA to help re-establish peace and prosperity in Libya, Minister Abela said.