Socialist International representatives in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to reaffirm support for a permanent two-state solution

7 May 2003

The Chair of the Socialist International Middle East Committee, Thorbjorn Jagland, and the Secretary General of the International, Luis Ayala, are in Tel Aviv and Ramallah this week for discussions with the organisation's Israeli and Palestinian member parties on the latest developments in the region and to reaffirm the support of the International for the recently presented roadmap to a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The SI representatives are meeting with leading members of the Israel Labour Party, including Secretary General Ophir Pines, Shimon Peres, Benjamin Ben Eliezer, Amram Mitzna, among others, and with leading members of Meretz, including Yossi Sarid. In Ramallah they are meeting with the President of the Palestinian National Authority and leader of Fatah, Yasser Arafat, with Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, head of the recently established cabinet of the PNA, and with Nabil Shaath, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Socialist International has welcomed the presentation of the Middle East roadmap for peace and has expressed its full commitment to work for its implementation.