In this Sept 18, 2019 photo, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye speaks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

RAMALLAH - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Monday urged the European Union to play an active role in the future political process related to the Palestinian cause.

Ishtaye made the call during his online meeting with the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, attended by 80 people representing different countries and parties in Europe, according to a press statement by the prime minister.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye made the call during his online meeting with the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, attended by 80 people representing different countries and parties in Europe, according to a press statement by the prime minister

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"It is necessary to break the status quo that the Palestinian cause is passing through because of the Israeli occupation measures," said Ishtaye, calling on the EU to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

During the meeting, he also called on Europe "to end the American monopoly of sponsoring the Middle East peace process through an international conference for peace in which all parties participate.”

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"Any political process must depend on ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories on the basis of the two-state vision under international law and United Nations resolutions," Ishtaye noted.

He called on the EU to exert pressure on Israel to allow the Palestinians to hold the elections in East Jerusalem, as the Palestinian leadership is determined to hold the general elections in the Palestinian territories soon.