H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs and expatriates Dr. Riad Malki received his Norwegian counterpart, Ms. Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, at the ministry's headquarters in the city of Ramallah this afternoon

Minister Dr. Malki reviewed the arbitrary and escalatory measures in the occupied city of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque, especially Bab al-Rahma, and the incursions and threats by the occupying forces against the crowds of worshippers. The persistence of settlement construction is a violation of international resolutions.  Pointing to the seriousness of the repeated incursions by the occupying army and settlers to the towns and villages of the occupied West Bank.  Moreover, the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip. Referring to the systematic extrajudicial killings committed by the occupying forces against defenseless citizens, in flagrant and serious defiance of all international covenants and norms,

Minister Malki addressed the decision of the occupying Government to piracy the Palestinian clearing funds and the seriousness of the impact on the Palestinian economy, noting that this decision violates international conventions, specifically the Paris economic protocol.

Minister Malki stressed the Palestinian position that engaging in any political process is in accordance with the principle of a two-state solution. He also stressed the commitment of Palestine to its stance rejecting the deal of the century.

He spoke of the important role that Norway can play as Chair of the Donor conference at the forthcoming conference next month in Brussels, as well as the distinctive bilateral relations that bind the two countries, especially since Palestine chairs the G77 + China. Referring to the initiative of President Mahmoud Abbas for peace in the Security Council on February 20, 2018.

Minister Malki thanked the Government of Norway for its continued support to the Agency for the relief and Works of Palestine refugees (UNRWA) for its continued commitment to UNRWA and its support for Palestinian institutions.

Ms. Soreide, stressed her country's position in support of the two-state solution, and that improving the economic situation was not a substitute for a two-state solution, but a two-state solution. The need to continue to provide support to UNRWA, and emphasized Norway's interest in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

This is the third visit of Foreign Minister Soreide,  to Palestine.