Foreign Minister George Vella would not say yesterday whether the government would back Israel at the UN Security Council elections in 2018, while he reiterated support for the Palestinian cause.
“Malta supports the Palestinian cause... The Middle East is for sure still on our agenda and our alliance and sympathy towards the Palestinian people was, is and will remain there. But at the same time our relations with Israel are excellent as they always understood that we were neither in favour of Israel nor Palestine. We’re in favour of peace in the Middle East,” he said.
We were hoping for a breakthrough in this issue
His comments come after Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli wished Israel well for the upcoming elections during a meeting last month, which triggered concern among members of the Palestine Solidarity Network in Malta.
Dr Vella was asked whether there was a policy shift in the relationship between Malta and Israel since Malta had always supported the Palestinian cause.
He said he was not present for the meeting at which Dr Dalli expressed hope that Israel and Malta would be elected and would have the opportunity to contribute to the Security Council’s objectives, especially Mediterranean issues.
He added, however, that it was not diplomatic practice to divulge where votes would go. Discussions were held with ambassadors that could lead to agreements but it was not normal practice for a country to declare whom it supported.
“As a Foreign Affairs Minister I will not declare our position in that election,” he said.
Dr Vella told the media to ask Dr Dalli what she meant by her statement as he did not know what was said. However, in general wishing someone success did not mean you were giving them your vote, he said.
Malta’s bid to obtain a seat on the UN Security Council in 2022, when the election of non-permanent members takes place in New York, was also on the Maltese government’s agenda when Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visited Israel in October. Malta served a two-year term on the Security Council in 1983.
The Council is the UN’s most influential body, made up of five permanent members, including the US and China, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
While the council’s main responsibility is the maintenance of international peace and security, Israel has been in defiance of UN resolutions over its occupation of Palestinian land.
Yesterday Dr Vella said Palestine had more than a just cause. “During our meetings we criticise Israel’s treatment of Palestinians who are still living under occupation at a time when there is no more occupation worldwide.
“We were hoping for a breakthrough in this issue. But the solution is not easy,” he said.
The day a solution was found would be “the most beautiful day in Middle Eastern politics” he said.
Dr Vella noted that at the moment issues about the jihadist group Isis, which is active in Iraq and Syria, was drawing attention away from the peace process in the Middle East and could change the interests of all those involved in the region, including the Gulf and the US.