European Union leaders on Thursday urged Israel to extend its moratorium on settlement building in the West Bank.
In a “Declaration on the Middle East “ adopted after a summit meeting in Brussels of the 27 Heads of State or Government, the EU welcomed the launch of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
“The decision by the parties to engage in substantive talks represents a major step on the road towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region,” the declaration said.
But it added: “The European Union recalls that settlements are illegal under international law and calls for an extension of the moratorium decided by Israel.” The EU also called for “a complete stop to all violence, in particular rocket fire and terrorist attacks.”
The partial 10-month moratorium decided by Israel is scheduled to expire on September 26 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu has so far refused to extend it.
The Prime Minister's office issued a statement saying that Netanyahu's position regarding the time period allotted for the West Bank building moratorium “is well known, and has not changed.”
“The European Union deems it indispensable that both parties observe calm and restraint and refrain from actions that could affect negatively the progress of the negotiations. It calls on both parties to uphold previous commitments and to strive to create an environment conducive to a successful outcome,” the EU declaration said.
The European Union said it “will spare no effort, along with its partners in the Quartet as well as Arab partners, to support the US-led efforts for successful negotiations that lead to a framework agreement within one year, which is in the interest of Israelis and Palestinians, the peoples of the region and the international community.”
Recalling that the European Union is the first donor to the Palestinians and a crucial political and economic partner of both parties, European leaders stressed that they “will remain actively engaged and involved, including through the Quartet, to support and ensure the success of the negotiations.”
They invited EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton “to continue to fully associate the European Union to the ongoing efforts.”
Several countries, particularly France, have criticized Ashton for not attending the launch of the Israeli-Palestinian talks in Washington. At the time, she was on an official visit to China.