Translated by Sabrin Qadah 

This came during his speech at the two-state conference and beyond: “Perceptions for the Future of the Palestinian Cause and Possible Settlements”, organized in Lebanon by the House of the Future in cooperation with the Jerusalem Center for Political Studies, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the Wilfried Martin Center for European Studies, in the presence of prominent Palestinian and Arab figures.

Shtayyeh pointed out that what Benjamin Netanyahu wants is the continuation of the status quo, the enemy of the two-state solution, which is the continued Judaization of Jerusalem and its annexation of the Jordan Valley and the designation of Area C as a geographical reservoir for the expansion of settlements.

Shtayyeh clarified that the importance of the Palestinian cause has not been lost because of the pressing issues in the region. He added that significant changes in the international arena may have an impact on the Palestinian cause, the tension in Europe as a result of Britain's departure from the Union and a new Russian strategy to deal with the Middle East, in addition to Trump’s being in power and the new dealing with the Middle East and Palestine.

"Israel also has allies on the international arena. The Palestinians also have allies. The peoples and parliaments stand with the Palestinian cause, and this is what we see through the events in universities, municipalities and in boycotting Israel campaign," he said.

He pointed to his request by a group of European consuls to take steps to prevent Israelis holding European passports from settling in settlements, where the number of Israelis holding European passports is estimated at 1.2 million, some of whom live in settlements.

He said that Europe supports the two-state solution and condemns settlements, however, there are no new steps but waiting for what will come from Trump.