Prince in first royal visit to meet Palestine leader
PALESTINIAN leader Mahmoud Abbas has told the Duke of Cambridge he hopes his homeland will be a fully independent state the next time he returns to the Middle East.
William made history with his visit to the offices of the Palestinian Authority president, becoming the first member of the monarchy to make an official trip to the Occupied Palestinian Territories on behalf of the Government.
The two men sat down for talks a day after William was tasked by Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin with taking a “message of peace” in a bid to rekindle relationships with the Arab leader.
In his comments to the duke, the Palestinian leader reaffirmed his “full commitment to achieving a full and lasting peace based on a two-state solution where the state of Palestine lives side by side with the state of Israel, with both supervising peace and security”.
Mr Abbas went on: “Your Royal Highness Prince William, it is my honour to receive you in Palestine for your first visit. I hope this will not be the last visit... that your next visit will be in the state of Palestine when we have our full independence.”
The president’s comments are consistent with his position on a long-term resolution to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
In response, Prince William thanked Mr Abbas for his welcome and revealed his hopes for “peace for the region”.
He said: “President, I’d just like to say, what pleasure it is to be here today. Thank you for your very warm welcome.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting some Palestinians today and seeing some of the culture and the diversity of Palestinians and their way of life, so thank you for welcoming me and I’m very glad that our two countries work so closely together and have had success stories with education and relief work in the past and long may that continue.
“My sentiments are the same as yours in hoping there is a lasting peace for the region.”