By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- On Monday, at the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Brussels, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell who chaired the meeting, said the EU is committed to a two-state solution in the Middle East whether Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wants it or not. Netanyahu has repeatedly, openly opposed a sovereign Palestinian state and a two-state solution to the consternation of the U.S. and the EU. As Borrell outlined at the summit: “Peace is a very general objective, nobody would say they are against peace; in our view we should stop talking about peace in the Middle East but talk about specifics, about the two-state solution.” He added: “If Israel does not want the solution, it is going to be difficult for them to take part … but it does not stop others taking part.” Speaking to the press, Borrell said: “What are the other solutions they have in mind? Make all the Palestinians leave? Kill all of them? … The way they are destroying Hamas is not the way to do it. They are sealing the hate for generations.” On Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his stance against the creation of a Palestinian state claiming it would be “an existential danger” to Israel.
Meanwhile, discussions focused on a 12-point discussion paper about creating a two-state solution, in addition to the hostage situation. Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz told ministers at the summit that he wants the EU to refocus on the hostage situation and freeing approximately 130 hostages still in Gaza. Prior to the summit, speaking to the media, a number of EU foreign ministers condemned Netanyahu’s refusal of a two-state solution. Ireland’s foreign minister Micheal Martin said that the Israeli PM’s hard-line against a two-state solution is unacceptable. German Foreign Minister “Annaalena Baerbock commented: “All those who say they don’t want to hear about such a solution have not brought any alternative.” While France’s new Foreign, European Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne said Netanyahu’s comments are something to be concerned about with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi telling the press that a two-state solution is the “only path,” and that the war must end. Safadi added: “We have engaged in over 30 years of process and look where that has got us,” Safadi said, referring to intermittent Israeli-Palestinian peace talks since the 1990s. “A moment of truth is upon us. Do we allow a radical racist agenda to dictate the future or come together and say the path is clear, we want peace for everybody?”
The EU’s 12-point plan offers no details or immediate solutions to the Gaza conflict but recommends that at a future peace conference, there should be “consequences” for both sides based on whether they accept or reject a plan approved by ministers at the summit meeting – though, what if any, ‘consequences’ were not laid out. The EU bloc is one of the major donors or economic aid to Palestinians and has a broad cooperation agreement with Israel that includes a free-trade area which some view as a means of influencing Israel. In attendance at the summit were Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz attended the meeting with other foreign ministers from the Middle East in attendance that included Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia HH. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Safadi. Later, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority, Riyad Al-Maliki also attended.
Photo : AA
