Watch: Metsola – ‘I Am Flabbergasted By Robert Abela’s Palestine Hypocrisy’
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she is “flabbergasted” that Prime Minister Robert Abela hasn’t yet recognised a Palestinian state.
“The Prime Minister’s hypocrisy on such a sensitive subject is alarming, staggering, and flabbergasting,” Metsola told Lovin Malta. “He has been speaking about the Palestinian state for months by using and abusing the issue for his own partisan needs.”
“However, when it came down to it, he didn’t take the decision [to recognise Palestine] like other countries did. This shows his hypocrisy and his lack of courage and ability to take decisions.”
Spain, Ireland and Norway recently formally recognised a Palestinian state based on the borders established before the 1967 war, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine. Slovenia is set to follow suit too.
Israel responded by withdrawing its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway and Spain, and summoning their three envoys to the Israeli Foreign Ministry to watch footage of the 7th October attacks in front of the press.
Malta has said it is open to recognising Palestine, but that it is waiting for the “right circumstances”.
Metsola said the European Parliament is in favour of Palestinian statehood, and that she gave this stance at the Knesset and in discussions with PNA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Should Malta recognise a Palestinian state?