Greece’s main opposition party leader might visit West Bank in show of support for 2-state solution
Stefanos Kasselakis says moral, practical conditions require Greece to recognize Palestine as state
Stefanos Kasselakis, the leader of Greece's main opposition party
ATHENS
The leader of Greece’s main opposition SYRIZA party might visit the West Bank in a show of support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, media reports said Thursday.
“There is a strong possibility that Stefanos Kasselakis will go to the West Bank in the coming days as a message for the need for a two-state solution for a peaceful co-existence, while Spain, Ireland and Norway have been added to the list of states that have recognized the state of Palestine,” according to public broadcaster, ERT, citing party sources.
Kasselakis told the broadcaster One Channel that “Greece "1000%" must recognize the Palestinian state with the borders of 1967, as required by moral and practical conditions.”
Asked if the move would undermine Greece’s relations with Israel, he responded: “You can't put human life and what is morally and historically right into an equation of short-term economic priority.”
He added: “Children and women are being murdered every day and there is no exit strategy by Israel. Not that if there was, such an act would be justified, but what will be done in the end? Will they continue every day like this? Will Gaza be occupied forever? Is this Israel's strategy?'
Norway, Ireland and Spain announced Wednesday they would recognize Palestine as a state as of May 28.
Palestine is already recognized by eight European countries: Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden and the Greek Cypriot administration.
Israel continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
More than 35,800 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and at least 80,200 others injured since October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.
More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
