European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is to visit Israel and the Gaza Strip this weekend, for the second time in five months.
“The Middle East is among the priorities of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,” Ashton’s spokesperson told EJP.
“Her first big foreign trip was to the Middle East (in March when she visited EU-funded humanitarian projects) and she has said she wants to come back. She is going back on the same spirit as the first time,” the source added.
During her Gaza visit she will not meet Hamas officials and she is likely to reiterate her call to the Islamist group to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
“She has called for the release of Gilad Shalit several times in the past and I believe she will call for it again,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier this month, the EU’s foreign policy chief welcomed Israel's decision to ease its blockade, as “another significant step forward in the review of its policy on Gaza”.
“Israel's new policy should improve the lives of the ordinary people of Gaza while addressing the legitimate security concerns of Israe,l” Ashton said, adding: “The movement of persons and trade between Gaza and the West Bank should remain one of the key objectives.”
Ashton has said the EU supports Israeli-Palestinian talks and the ongoing proximity talks along the lines of the December 2009 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions which form the basis of the European approach.
Her spokesperson spoke of a “balanced approach with a view of having peace on the Middle East.”
Her visit takes place against a backdrop of renewed efforts to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
I believe we are balanced in our approach and work with a view of having peace on the Middle East.
Ashton's trip would be separate from a planned mission later this month of Italian, French, British, German and Spanish Foreign Ministers, who accepted an invitation from Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman to visit Gaza.
Catherine Ashton, 54, was born in Upholland in Lancashire, northern England, from where she takes her title, Baroness Ashton of Upholland.