PLC members hosted Ahlin for the first time as the Speaker of The Swedish Parliament, who was accompanied by members of the riksdag. The delegation was received by Nabil Shaath, Abdullah Abdullah, Qais Abdul Karim, Najat al-Astal, Walid Assaf, Mustafa Barghouthi, and The Secretary General Ibrahim Khrishi.

Shaath welcomed Ahlin who declared that the aim of the visit is to take a look at the current political situation in the region, especially the recent development on the issue of reconciliation. It was also to discuss other regional and International issues that are related to Israeli Palestinian conflict.

Shaath hailed the solid and successful development of bilateral relations between the two countries since Sweden recognized the State of Palestine.

“Sweden’s priorities are human rights and International law by means of the UN charter. Based on this, we recognized the Palestinian State”.

The delegation met Mps of different factions. They discussed several issues related to the current situation in Palestine and the daily suffering of the Palestinian people living under the Israeli occupation. Shaath also shed light on the general elections (the legislative and presidential) saying that this issue was one of the factors that pushed the reconciliation process forward.

Al Barghouthi also pointed out that the reconciliation is an important step to address the Israeli plans and face the daily Israeli violations of human rights and international law especially the settlements, apartheid, detentions, destruction of buildings, and the confiscation of natural resources.

The programme of the visit also included several meetings with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki, as well as representatives of UN bodies working with humanitarian operations, and organizations working with women’s rights and human rights in Palestine.

On the basis of a field visit arranged to Rawabi, the delegation expressed their concerns about the urban development and modern design and lifestyle.

At the end of the visit, Shaath and Ahlin issued a press statement regarding the visit…..Watch the video…