Press House holds a discussion session with Tomas Niklasson, the Acting EU Representative (West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA).

On Monday, 9th of Dec.2019, the Press House, Palestine, , held a discussion session with the Acting Head of the European Representative in the West Bank, Gaza and UNRWA, Mr. Tomas Niklasson, on the margins of the international media for human rights.

The session was attended by a group of male and female journalists working for local media channels.

The Chair of the Board of Directors of the Press House, Bilal Jadallah, welcomed the European guest and attendees, stressing the importance of these meetings, which enhance the language of dialogue and the right to access information, especially as they come on an important occasion, which is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For his part, Tomas Niklasson reviewed the reality of human rights in the Palestinian territories, the role of the European Union in Palestine and the political and financial support provided by them. He also touched during his speech on the issue of Palestinian elections scheduled to be held during the coming period.

During the discussion session, Mr. Niklasson listened to questions, inquiries and interventions by male and female journalists, as he answered all the interventions and inquiries, where the discussion was purposeful, constructive and fruitful, and he was well received by the attendees.

On the margins of the session, Mr. Tomas Niklasson confirmed, during a meeting with SAWA News Agency affiliated with the Press House, the European Union's support for the Palestinian elections, if it happens in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank.

Niklasson said that the European Union is following with interest and is awaiting the announcement of the Palestinian election dates soon.

He added that the European Union is ready to support this process (elections), in various ways and will send an election observation mission as it did at the last election.

He pointed out that the European Union will continue to work with the Palestinian Central Election Commission to ensure the possibility of holding the elections.

While in his response to the question, "Will the European Union recognize the results of the elections if it happens?" Niklasson said: "This issue will be answered when the results appear," adding: "The important thing is that the Palestinian factions recognize the results of the elections, and then we will follow the advances closely."

He also explained that Israel clearly has a role when it comes to holding elections in East Jerusalem; as a result of its control over the Eastern Jerusalem, stressing the position of the European Union that "The occurrence of elections in East Jerusalem is an important part of the electoral process."