Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Athens for a two-day official visit on Sunday, as part of efforts to mobilize international support for the recognition of the “state of Palestine.” 

The official PA news agency reported Monday that Abbas told Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that putting an end to “the occupation” would also result in an end to terrorism. 

“Ending the occupation will put a halt to all of the problems associated with it, such as terrorism,” Abbas asserted. “And then end of terrorism will lead to finding solutions to problems arising from it like immigration.”

“Any solution to the Palestinian problem,” Abbas contended, “must be sustainable. We hold out our hand to the Israeli side to cooperate on finding a solution to the Palestinian problem.”

This “outstretched hand” may ring hollow as the PA has been engaged in a prolonged incitement campaign against the Jewish state amid an ongoing wave of terror that has already claimed 22 victims. 

In mid September, around the time of the first major attack, Abbas praised every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem for “Allah,” and called to use violence to block “filthy” Jews from the Temple Mount, in a line of incitement that has only continued.

Abbas’s visit to Greece comes as Tsipras’ government is trying to balance improved relations with Israel with his party’s longstanding support for a Palestinian state.

A recent report indicated that the Greek Parliament is set to join a host of European countries that have recognized the “state of Palestine” and hold a vote on the issue this coming Tuesday.