‘’Our view remains that we would have to judge the Israeli government on the actual actions that it is taking. Since the government is not formed yet that remains to be seen,” the European Union Ambassador in Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, said.
In an interview with The Times of Israel, the diplomat said that the EU is not currently reassessing its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Recent media reports suggested the EU was assessing ‘’new ways’’ to pressure Israel back to peace talks with the Palestinians.
‘’But if the incoming Israeli government continues to expand settlements in the West Bank and build in East Jerusalem, Brussels will intensify its efforts to pressure Israel,’’ Faaborg-Andersen warned.
“Obviously, we are committed to the two-state solution, so we will be carefully monitoring what actions the government is taking that in our view are conducive or not conducive to a two-state solution. And that will be the basis on which we evaluate this government,” he said.
In the interview, the ambassador Faaborg-Andersen reiterated the EU’s staunch opposition to settlement construction. “We made clear time and again that settlement expansion is very detrimental to final-status talks. And obviously if it continues we will take appropriate action.”
The EU wants to wait and see which policies the new government will be pursuing on the Palestinian front, he said. “We’re hopeful they will pursue policies leading to the solution of the conflict and the two-state concept. It’s clear that during the past couple of years we have seen a spike in settlement expansions, both in terms of planning and tenders and also actual construction and start up of construction.’’
In her recent message congratulating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his electoral victory, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said ‘the EU is committed to working with the incoming Israeli government on a mutually beneficial relationship as well as on the re-launch of the peace process.’’
‘’The EU staunchly supports a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the interest of the Israeli people, of the Palestinian people and of the whole region. We are at your side, you can count on us,’’ she said, without mentioning the two-state solution.
Netanyahu, the leader of Likud, the party which won the elections with 30 seats, was tasked by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to form the next government. Likud has started negotiations with potential members of the coalition.
A senior Likud figure last week urged Europe to be ‘’more fair’’ towards Israel should it want to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians.
‘’When do you accept all Palestinians demands before any negotiation, on the issue of borders, Jerusalem or the the right of return, you are not a fair mediator,’’ said Silvan Shalom, who was Energy and Water Minister in the outgoing Netanyahu government.
Bastiaan Belder, a Dutch Member of the European Parliament who is Vice-Chair of the delegation for relations with Israel, believes that Europe should take a ‘’more constructive attitude’’ towards the upcoming new Israeli government.
‘’This will bring the Palestinians quicker to the negotiating table for a two-state solution,’’ he said, suggesting that European scepticism towards a new Netanyahu-led government ‘’will not facilitate the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks.’’