Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riad Malki. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The migration crisis put global issues like the Middle East peace talks on the back-burner, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella said yesterday.

“I’m sorry to say that the future prospects for Palestine do not look good. Despite this, the gaze of the international community, which first turned to what happened in Ukraine, has now shifted to North Africa and the migration problem,” he said.

Mr Vella was speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the setting up of small and medium businesses.

In a brief meeting with the press after the signing, Mr Vella said the Israeli–Arab conflict and tussle for land had raged ever since the mid 20th century. Yet talks to find a solution to the tensions between the two states had lost their verve and almost drawn to a stalemate.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki agreed and with a reluctant shrug of his shoulders said he too was not optimistic about the future.

The Israeli government, he added, had not shown any interest in easing tensions. On the contrary, the newly-elected government’s first act was to order the takeover of more Palestinian land, a move Mr Malki felt was aimed at “sending out a message to the world”.

It is very important to have others like Malta supporting you

He said he was grateful for the support Palestine had received from Malta, particularly when Palestine had turned to the international community for help.

“When you go to the UN or to the EU it is very important not to be a lone voice but to speak out and have others like Malta supporting you,” he said.

Reassuring Mr Malki of Malta’s full support for Palestine “whoever is in government,” Mr Vella said he felt “much closer” to the Palestinian foreign minister than any other foreign minister.