Alternattiva Demokratika today called on the Prime Minister to urgently raise the issue of the situation in Palestine with his EU counterparts.

AD noted that the Prime Minister seemed to be totally ignoring Malta's long-held position of defending the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Chairman Arnold Cassola said the hardships, land-grabbing and ill-treatment of Palestinians resulting from the "illegal and immoral" occupation by the Israel just led to cycles of violence.

“The indiscriminate bombardment and shelling by Israel of the Occupied Territories is immoral and outrageous and must stop immediately," he said.

Prof. Cassola said that promises of an independent and free Palestinian State had to become a reality if the violence was to stop.

“The firing of rockets into Israel is not helping the situation but the savage and barbaric bombardment and shelling of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli occupying forces is scandalous."

He also referred to reports that the government was supporting Israel to gain a seat on the UN Security Council and said AD wondered what Dr Muscat was selling his principles for this time round.

“A State which is in breach of UN resolutions and has been occupying another nation for decades is not fit to sit on the UN Security Council," AD said.