World Jewish News

Peres to EU's Van Rompuy : The main problem is not settlements but terror

Israeli President Shimon Peres said the main difficulty in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is not settlements but rather terror.
"The EU can help us in putting an end to terror by condemning Hamas because they are the center of terror, the same for Hezbollah," he added after meeting in Brussels with Europen Council President Herman Van Rompuy who after warmly welcoming the Israeli leader recalled the EU opposition to the "illegal expansion of settlements."
Peres, who is on a state visit to the EU, his first ever as President, however expressed optimism that after the US and Israeli elections "there is a new chance to reopen the negotiations."betwen Israel and the Palestinians).
Van Rompuy said that during the meeting he explained to President Peres the clear positions taken by the Council as regards the Middle East Peace Process and the European Union's conviction that "bold and concrete steps need to be taken now."
"The parties have to engage in direct and substantial negotiations. There will be no sustainable peace until the Palestinian's aspirations for statehood and sovereignty and those of Israelis for security are fulfilled through a comprehensive and negotiated peace based on the two-State solution," he added.
"I underlined the European Union's determination to continue supporting the peace process through its various instruments, political, economic and crisis management, as well as its commitment to the security of Israel, including with regard to vital threats in the region. To achieve these goals the European Union will continue working with the United States and other international partners, including within the Quartet, » Van Rompuy said.
During the meeting, which was followed by a working dinner, bilateral relations between the EU and Israel were also discussed. "We appreciate their relevance and richness," Van Rompuy said, adding that they agreed "to seek further ways to expand them."
Earlier on Wednesday, President Peres met with several members of the European Parliament from the European Friends of Israel (EFI) group.
He addressed some of the criticism leveled at Israel and the challenges Israel must face, foremost the threat of a nuclear Iran and a return to negotiations with the Palestinians.
"Israel was founded 65 years ago and has since undergone seven wars, I do not know of any other country that withstood that kind of threat and paid such a heavy price in terms of human lives, so I ask those that criticize us, how would you act in our place? The State of Israel yearns for peace with its neighbors, we signed peace deals with Egypt and Jordan and we returned great areas of land."
President Peres stressed that the State of Israel searches for total peace with her neighbors the Palestinians and said that peace is possible and the gaps between the sides are not great, "We tried to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians based upon the two state solution, two states for two nations. We left Gaza and uprooted 8000 settlers from their homes. I know the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, he is a man of peace and I believe that a solution can be found."
Addressing the Iranian threat President Peres said, "I have great respect for the Iranian people but it is the Iranian leadership which is funding Hezbollah and other terror groups which carry out attacks across the world, including in Europe. Iran is not threatened by the nations of the world but Iran does not respect international agreements and threatens the entire world. We do not want to reach the point where Iran has nuclear weapons and Syria has chemical weapons."
Peres said Europe has the ability to help the nations of the world and serve as a role model, despite the economic crisis.
"The Middle East is undergoing change, and we see young people suffering from hunger, discrimination and unemployment. Israel is only a small part of the Middle East, but I believe that Europe and Israel should extend a hand of assistance to those countries who wish it. We should work together for a better future for the State of Israel and the entire Middle East."

EJP