UN urges more diplomacy after Israel, Palestine officials meet
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas adjusts his glasses as he listens during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured), in the West Bank city of Ramallah, May 25, 2021. -Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS
WASHINGTON: The UN's special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict urged the parties on Monday to hold additional rounds of high-level talks following a meeting between Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Gantz and Abbas met in Ramallah in an exceptionally rare sit-down on Sunday that marked the first official meeting between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israeli government since 2014, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
Tor Wennesland, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's envoy for the conflict, encouraged more ministerial-level engagement, particularly to advance financial and economic cooperation.
"I hope that such contacts can result in bringing the parties in a position to advance unresolved issues, including political ones and those related to the implementation of agreements made by the parties," he told the Security Council.
Wennesland continued to raise alarm over the PA's "dire financial situation," which he said may "affect all Palestinians."
"It is critical that the PA be empowered to exercise its responsibilities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including on reconstruction in the Gaza Strip," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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