A decade of Malta-Palestine relations, 1999-2009 : insights for policy-makers

Abstract

Malta's diplomatic relationship with Palestine goes back for almost four decades, and throughout all those years they shared very good relations. Undoubtedly, Malta's foreign policy of always supporting UN Resolutions, and consequently the Palestinians' right of self determination were important factors for such good relations. The study analyses the Malta-Palestine relation, with specific focus on the period 1999-2009. This period was selected to have five years both before Malta joined the EU as well as five years after, to try and attempt to find if the EU accession have any impact on Malta's foreign policy towards Palestine. Two interviews were also conducted, one with Mr. Stefan Muscat, Malta's Desk Officer for Palestine, and Dr. Joe Mifsud, the former International Secretary for the Labour Party. The study focuses mainly on four specific areas of the diplomatic relations between Malta and Palestine, being the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the Council for the Exercise of the Rights of the Palestinian People, Malta's Embassy to Palestine and the implications behind it, as well as an analysis of the Memoranda of Understanding between Malta and Palestine. The study reveals that while attempts to exert influence have been made, Malta's foreign policy towards Palestine remains stable and favourable towards Palestine.