Palestinian Territories – Conversation between Catherine Colonna and her Palestinian counterpart (July 19, 2023)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke by phone with Riyadh al-Maliki, the Palestinian Authority’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, on July 19.

As she did with her Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, the Minister shared France’s deep concern over worsening tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She stressed the importance of ending all unilateral measures liable to fuel tensions and underscored the need to end the settlement policy, which is contrary to international law and undermines prospects for peace. The Minister reiterated our strong condemnation of all attacks against civilians, whether Israeli or Palestinian.
She also reiterated the urgent need to work to reestablish a political framework for settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the only viable solution: the two-state solution, with both states living side by side in peace and security. She underscored France’s readiness to contribute to that goal.