MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday called for a de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. “Today the risk of escalation is once more increasing in a dangerous way” in Lebanon, said Sanchez, at a news conference with visiting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. “So we must again make a fresh appeal for restraint, for a de-escalation and for peaceful coexistence between countries, in the name of peace,” he added.

Sanchez was speaking to journalists after more than an hour’s talks with Abbas. Neither Sanchez nor Abbas referred directly to the explosions of electronic devices that rocked Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday in the latest escalation of tensions. Even before that stunning act of apparent sabotage, tensions were running high in the Middle East, in large part due to the war between the Zionist entity and Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Since the war began, Sanchez has positioned himself as a champion of the Palestinian cause within the European Union. His socialist government has increasingly taken highly critical positions towards the Zionist entity’s conduct of its campaign against Hamas, rival to Abbas’ own Fatah party. “The international community and Europe cannot remain impassive in the face of the suffering of thousands of innocents, largely women and children,” he added.

Urging a two-state solution, long a cornerstone of international attempts to end the decades-long conflict, Sanchez said that a Palestinian nation “living side by side with (the Zionist entity)” was the only way to “bring stability to the region”. He pointed out that this is Abbas’ first visit to Spain since Madrid took the decision to recognize the state of Palestine on May 28. — AFP

Ireland and Norway took the same decision in May.

“Why is this a good thing? Because Palestine exists and has the right to have its own state,” the premier added. While Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, the Fatah party chaired by Abbas controls the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank. Abbas expressed his thanks for Sanchez’s support and Spain’s recognition, urging “all states that have not yet recognized us to do so”. – AFP