The recent EU guidelines which forbid its 28 member states to cooperate with Israeli entities beyond the Green Line ‘’are undermining peace’’ by hardening Palestinian positions,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle Monday.
He said Israel is committed to peace but the new European directives « stand in way of reaching a solution.’’
‘’But I have to say, on a sad note, that I think Europe, the European guidelines have actually undermined peace," he added.
The guidelines "have hardened Palestinian positions", Netanyahu, whos is expected to raise the issue with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said.
"They seek an unrealistic end that everybody knows is not going to happen, and I think they stand in the way of reaching a solution which will only be reached by negotiations by the parties, and not by an external dictate."
The German Foreign Minister responded by saying: "So let me just wish you the very best, personally and of course for the upcoming direct talks. We encourage everyone to stay on this track. We will support you."
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are due to renew their talks – which restarted on July 30 in Washington after almost three years- Wednesday in Jerusalem.
Monday’s meeting between Netanyahu and Westerwelle took place a day after the Israeli premier was released from the hospital following an emergency hernia operation.
On Friday, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister says Israel would rather forego a research partnership with the EU worth hundreds of millions of dollars than accept an anti-settlement clause as part of such a deal.
Israel wants to negotiate, but that "we can't sign" if the terms remain, Elkin said.
On Sunday, Israeli President Shimon Peres urged the EU to hold up the new guidelines during upcoming talks in Jerusalem. Peres says the European Union’s support will help bring peace.
One thousand legal experts from Israel and around the world submitted a letter to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, refuting claims of illegality and calling on her to annul the EU's new directive.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government gave the green light to the construction of nearly 1,200 new apartments for settlements in the West Bank.
Michael Mann, spokesman for Catherine Ashton, told a press briefing of the European Commission: "Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible."