RAMALLAH, President Mahmoud Abbas received today at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Duarte Pacheco.

President Abbas briefed the president of IPU on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and on Israel’s ongoing aggressive practices against the Palestinian people.

The president stressed that Israel’s continuation of its settlement policy and denial of Palestinian rights will destroy whatever remains of the two-state solution which is based on United Nations resolutions.

He said that the Palestinian leadership will take the necessary choices to protect the rights of the Palestinian people, “because we will not accept the continuation of the occupation forever.”

President Abbas stressed the importance of the efforts exerted by the international parliament in support of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to freedom and independence.

For his part, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Duarte Pacheco stressed his keenness to visit Palestine and witness firsthand the situation of the Palestinian people on the ground in order to file a special report regarding what he witnessed in Palestine to the parliament during the Parliamentary Forum scheduled for next month in Madrid.

He affirmed his support for the two-state solution and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, nothing that the special committee on the Middle East in the International Parliament will hold a special session in Palestine to discuss its situation.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency