Europe considers support mission to monitor Palestinian elections
Jean-Noel Barrot , the French Foreign Minister, is to ask the European Union to send a mission to monitor Palestinian elections scheduled for November, the first in two decades. Speaking on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, Mr Barrot said there is “no more powerful way for a people aspiring to self-determination to express themselves fully in an election than by…
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot is set to request the European Union to dispatch an election monitoring mission to Palestine. This mission, aimed at observing the November elections, marks the first such effort in two decades. Barrot claims that no technical or logistical obstacles stand in the way of the elections. The Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has pledged to conduct the elections, contingent upon recognition by France and ten other nations, including the UK, Canada, and Portugal.
Abbas, 90, has yet to confirm his candidacy. Despite being a major financial contributor, the EU often criticizes the Palestinian leadership for corruption and inefficiency. Barrot has tasked Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs and security policy chief, with organizing a mission to the Palestinian territories. This mission would not be limited to EU countries, and Barrot anticipates support from other nations.
Abbas's current mandate expired in 2009, and he has been governing through decree since then. Previous elections, held in 2006, saw Hamas defeat Abbas's Fatah party. European ministers, including Jose Manuel Albares of Spain, are pushing for sanctions against Israeli politicians who promote anti-Palestinian rhetoric. Spain and France have attempted to impose an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements, but have faced opposition, particularly from Germany.
Barrot reaffirmed the EU's stance that it cannot accept products from illegal settlements entering EU territory.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Europe considers support mission to monitor Palestinian elections thenationalnews.com
