PLO official Hanan Ashrawi (right) with Canada‘s Representative to Palestine Douglas Scott Proudfoot at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah.

RAMALLAH, February 23, 2017, (WAFA) – Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Thursday thanked Canada for its opposition to Israeli settlements and urged it to take more concrete action in support of Palestine.

Ashrawi extended during a meeting with Canada’s Representative to Palestine, Douglas Scott Proudfoot, at the PLO Headquarters in Ramallah her appreciation to Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland for affirming recently that settlements are illegal under international law, according to a statement issued by Ashrawi’s office.

She also called on the Canadian government to take concrete action and support Palestine in international forums.

“We hope that with this government, Canada will embark on a phase of active support for a just peace,” said Ashrawi.

The meeting focused on “Israel‘s continued violations on the ground, including its illegal settlement activities, the theft of Palestinian land and resources and other oppressive measures which constitute the real threat to the two-state solution, while generating a culture of hate and racism within Israel,” according to the statement.

Ashrawi also affirmed the importance of reunification and holding elections as a means of revitalizing the Palestinian political system.

Both parties further discussed how to expand Canadian-Palestinian relations and improve means of cooperation.

M.K.