Italy welcomes the signing by Palestinian President Abbas of the decree calling the legislative, Presidential and Palestinian National Council elections as of next 22 May.
It is a positive development to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people and strengthen local institutions. Italy continues to provide constant and convincing support, also through targeted bilateral cooperation programmes.
Italy strongly believes that this process will consolidate the legitimacy and international credibility of the Palestinian institutions, even in view of a desirable prompt restart of the peace negotiations with Israel.
In conjunction with the European Union, Italy is ready to support the Palestinian electoral process. It hopes that the Israeli authorities will cooperate to facilitate the elections in all Palestinian territories.
