EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the formation of a new government.
The new coalition government includes five parties with a slim majority of one seat in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, but Netanyahu has let open the possibility of broadening the coalition. The new government is expected to be sworn in the beginning of next week.
According to an official from Likud, Netanyahu’s party, the Prime Minister would hold the Foreign Ministry portfolio for himself, in the hope of later handing the top government position to Isaac Herzog, leader of the Zionist Union.
‘’The European Union will continue to work together with Israel on a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship as well as on important regional and global issues of joint interest,’’ Mogherini said in a statement.
‘’The inauguration of the new government will also allow to relaunch the Palestinian/Israeli peace negotiations as soon as possible, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive agreement towards the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel in peace and security,’’ she added.
She stressed that ‘’ the Israeli people and the Palestinian people deserve not only a future, but also a present of peace after too much suffering. Entire generations have paid and still pay the price of a lack of confidence and courage. It's time for courageous choices for the institutions of both sides.’’
‘’They will have the European Union by their side. I am ready to personally engage in order to facilitate further progress and look forward to working with the new (Israeli) government,’’ the statement reads.
At the same moment, the EU Ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, said on Thursday that Europe was “frustrated” over the fact that talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are not progressing.
Speaking at Europe Day celebrations at Haifa University, the EU ambassador said, "Any agreement must reflect Israel's security interests, but there is definitely growing frustration among the EU countries that there is no progress in the peace process.”
"We are consistent in supporting a two-state solution primarily because we believe that it is a good solution for Israeli interests," he continued, adding that the EU understands that the responsibility for the failure to reach an agreement is not Israel's alone, and that a partner is needed to reach an agreement.
He also said, “We cannot accept steps which move us backwards, especially the issue of settlement construction." The issue of settlements has been a constant stumbling block in EU-Israeli relations in recent years.
Faaborg-Andersen noted that the EU favors dialogue and is against isolation, and added that the EU expects the new Israeli government to advance the peace process.
At the beginning of his address the EU ambassador praised the relationship between Israel and the EU, and said that Israel is the closest partner of the EU.
"The EU and Israel share a deep relationship in a wide variety of topics. We have trade relations, cooperation in science and technology, relationships in the tourist and other industries,” he said, adding, “Unfortunately, what resonates are the points of disagreement between us, especially in the diplomatic field.”
Referring to the impending nuclear deal between Iran and the West, Faaborg-Andersen assured Israel that it is not alone.
"We understand perfectly the Israeli concerns regarding the upcoming agreement with Iran, and we take these concerns into account in the discussions, with the goal of bringing Iran's nuclear program to be for civilian purposes only,” he said. “The missiles Iran is developing could also reach Europe and therefore we are concerned about a nuclear Iran, and it is important to us that Israel understands that it is not alone in its concerns.”
On several occasions, the EU has insisted on the need to relaunch talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Federica Mogherini last month announced the appointment of a new special EU representative for the Middle East, Fernando Gentilini, another sign of the EU’s interest in advancing the peace process. ‘’He will work towards the resumption of meaningful negotiations with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace agreement based on a two-state solution. He will work in close contacts with all major players, including the parties to the conflict, members of the Quartet, Arab states and relevant regional bodies,’’ the EU said.
The EU has constantly reiterated that enhancing its relations with Israel would depend on the developments in the peace process. Israel insists that the EU needs to have a better understanding of Israel's security concerns in the context of very instable and hostile regional situation (Hamas, Hezbollah, Isis, Syria, Iran, Yemen….).
Italian mep Fulvio Martusciello, chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Israel, believes that ‘’it is now up to Israel to seek closer ties with Europe."
"It is now Israel's responsibility to weave the common threads that link it to Europe and we, as the European Union, are ready to reciprocate," he told the Europea Israel Press Association (EIPA).
He has also warned against any attempts within the EU to isolate Israel following Netanyahu's reelection.
Martusciello also said in an apparent reference to previous attempts to exert pressure on the Israeli authorities, "The Knesset is a different body than it was prior to the elections and it is up to Europe to recognise that. What is crucially important at this stage is not to allow Israel feel isolated. With isolation from the international community, religious fanaticism can flourish."