Gaza:Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh of the State of Palestine met with the European Union's new Representative for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Ambassador Andreas Wiedler, along with Johan Friedborn Larsson, Head of the Political Section at the EU Representative Office, and EU media officer Shadi Othman.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency WAFA, Al-Sheikh welcomed Wiedler to his new role and expressed gratitude for the European Union's ongoing support for the political process, the State of Palestine, the Palestinian people, and reform efforts. The meeting addressed the challenging political, security, and economic conditions in the occupied West Bank, marked by increasing colonist violence, settlement expansion, Israeli control over Area C, and the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues.
Al-Sheikh reiterated the continuation of the Palestinian reform program, focusing on political, financial, and judicial reforms as a national priority to strengthen state institutions and the rule of law. He emphasized the necessity of elections to maintain the unity of the Palestinian people and territory, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and to uphold Palestinian legislation and institutions. Ensuring transparency and integrity in the electoral process was also highlighted as essential.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza was another focus, with Al-Sheikh stressing the importance of the Palestinian National Authority resuming its responsibilities in the Strip to maintain the unity of the Palestinian political, geographical, and legal system.
Ambassador Wiedler affirmed the EU's readiness to support elections and emphasized the importance of ongoing reform. He confirmed the EU's commitment to supporting the Palestinian reform program and strengthening institutions while maintaining communication and coordination with the Palestinian side.