Stressing that US efforts ''must not go to waste,'' the European Union urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations.
In conclusions issued after a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers Monday in Brussels, the EU also called ‘’on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any unilateral action which may further undermine peace efforts and the viability of a two-state-solution, such as continued settlement expansion.’’
Talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumed in July 2013 under US sponsorship and were to have lasted nine months until April 29 but Israel decided to suspend the talks in response to a unity deal between Palestinian Auithority President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestine Liberation Organization and the Hamas Islamist movement in Gaza.
In its conclusions, the EU regrets that ‘’despite US efforts, greater progress has not been made by the parties to date in the talks’’.
‘’The EU urges the parties to use the coming weeks to find the common ground and political strength needed to resume this process and to make the necessary bold decisions,’’ it added.
The EU said it remains determined ‘’to do all it can to support that goal, including through the offer of a Special Privileged Partnership, which will ensure unprecedented economic, political and security support for both parties in the event of a final status agreement.’’
The conclusions continued : ‘’The European Union recalls previous Council conclusions which have laid down its vision for a two-state solution resulting in an agreement on all final status issues, ending all claims, and fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of both parties. A one state reality would not be compatible with such aspirations. ‘’
The EU also reiterated its support for Palestinian reconciliation ‘’on clear and certain terms’’ as an ‘’important element for the unity of a future Palestinian state and for reaching a two-state solution and a lasting peace.’’
‘’The EU looks forward to continuing its support, including through direct financial assistance, for a possible new Palestinian government composed of independent figures that commits to the principles set out in President Abbas' speech in Cairo on 4 May 2011,’’ it said, stressing that such a government ‘’should uphold the principle of non-violence, and remain committed to achieving a two-state solution and to a negotiated peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict accepting previous agreements and obligations, including Israel’s legitimate right to exist’’.
‘’The EU's engagement with a new Palestinian government will be based on its adherence to these policies and commitments.’’
The EU underlined that Mahmoud Abbas, as President of the PLO, ‘’remains fully in charge of the negotiation process and is mandated to negotiate in the name of all Palestinians’’.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said last week “the EU expects any new (Palestinian) government to uphold the principle of non-violence, to remain committed to achieving a two-state solution and to a negotiated peaceful settlement ... including Israel’s legitimate right to exist.”
“The fact that President Abbas will remain fully in charge of the negotiation process and have a mandate to negotiate in the name of all Palestinians provides further assurance that the peace negotiations can and must proceed,” she added.