Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, stated on Wednesday that several European Countries confirmed that they are committed to ending the siege imposed on the Palestinians by developing their relations with the Palestinian National Unity Government and resuming the financial aid.Haniyya's statements came in Saudi Arabia before the Arab summit started its deliberations. He said that the positions of Russia and Norway “are progressive” and said that several European countries informed the Palestinian government that they seek to develop their relations with the Palestinian Unity Government, resume the financial support, and expressed willingness to lift the siege.
Haniyya did not name the countries but said that the American and Israeli positions have become isolated since the Palestinians managed to interact with their regional and international spheres.
In a separate incident, Haniyya said after meeting with the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, that progress was made regarding the prisoner swap deal with Israel and expressed hopes that the issue will be resolved in the coming days.
Haniyya and Støre met on the sidelines of the nineteenth Arab summit, and discussed the latest developments in Palestine after the unity government was formed.
Støre said that his government supports lifting the political and economical siege which has been imposed on the Palestinians since the legislative elections last year.
Also, Palestinian Foreign Minister, Ziad Abu Amro, phoned Støre who invited him to visit Norway and expressed willingness to visit the Palestinian territories.
On March 19, Haniyya met with the Norwegian vice Foreign Minister, Ramon Yohanson, in Gaza. The visit was the first official visit carried by a European diplomat to the Palestinian territories since Hamas won the legislative elections last year.
