Middle East: Support for new Palestinian Government, says Mogherini. Peace process must move forward.

Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini has given an assurance that Italy will “fully support” the new Palestinian government led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. “An important advance has been made in the Palestinian reconciliation process”, she commented. Minister Mogherini added that the Government intends to continue working with the Palestinian executive, in view of the guarantees given by President Mahmoud Abbas on the two-state solution, recognising the Israeli State’s right to exist, rejecting violence and respecting the peace agreements. “Now”, she continued, “the hope is that this pathway to reconciliation will provide a new, firmer foundation for a peace process that we hope can resume as soon as possible”.