Musa Hadid, President of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) said that Italy could play an advocating role pressuring the member states of the European Union to support the rights of the Palestinian people and combating the Israeli occupation practices at all levels.

During his meeting with Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation, Marina Serinni, Hadid added that Italy was always in support of the Palestinian people rights. Moreover, today, we aspire for a more positive and advanced role from the Italian government to pressure the EU member states to put an end to the attempts of some countries imposing some conditioned funding for the Palestinian people on one hand, and encouraging the European countries to take decisive stances towards the Israeli occupation practices against our people.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marina, emphasized that the Italian people and government adopt solid positions towards supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and its right to establishing its independent state. Moreover, over the past months, the Italian government played a progressive role in the corridors of the EU to guarantee securing European support of the Palestinian National Authority without conditions.

APLA's Executive Director, Abdallah Anati, demanded having a Fund supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AICS, dedicated to funding joint initiatives between Palestinian and Italian local authorities on priority issues, especially environmental projects and projects on localizing SDGs. He also indicated that a partnership agreement will be signed with ANCI UMBRIA to form a broader umbrella for cooperation between local authorities of Palestine and Italy.

This official meeting was convened as part of a specialized visit program organized by APLA in partnership with ANCI UMBRIA, Trasimeno Servizi Ambientali, FELCOS UMBRIA, under the activities of the Project "L.A.N.D". The Palestinian delegation included in addition to Musa Hadid, APLA's President, Arij Assi, Mayor of Beit Liqia, Yousef Al-Khawaja, Mayor of Ni'lin, Mo'een Dmeidi, Mayor of Huwwarah, Mahmoud Barham, Mayor of Anabta, Abdallah Anati, APLA's Executive Director, and Widad Al-Qadi, Project Coordinator.