Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday urged European Union countries to recognize the state of Palestine and called on the 28-nation bloc to step political efforts in the Middle East amid Arab disappointment with the U.S. role in the region. Calling the EU a true partner and friend, Abbas said the Europeans should "swiftly recognize the state of Palestine." "This would encourage the Palestinian people to keep hoping for peace and to wait until peace is brought about," he told reporters. But while the EU is the world's biggest aid donor to the Palestinians, it is highly unlikely that its member countries would make such a move. "What would be ideal would be to undertake a peace initiative together with the Americans," Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said.

Source: ABC News January 22, 2018 07:45 UTC