Brussels, 28/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on Monday 27 September that she “regretted” the Israeli decision not to extend the moratorium on settlements in Palestinian territory. The EU is “examining the consequences of this decision and consulting with the parties and our Quartet and Arab partners”, she said, calling on the parties involved to “act responsibly”. “There is no alternative to a negotiated solution. Therefore, it is in everybody's interest to find a satisfactory way for the negotiations to continue and gather momentum”, she went on to add.
The EU foreign policy chief pointed out that she had held talks with the US envoy for the Middle East, George Mitchell, on Monday, and also with the Quartet's envoy, the former British prime minister, Tony Blair. Ashton said she was “soon” to hold talks with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and also with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The latter has resisted intense pressure from the United States and the international community, refusing to renew the partial freeze on settlement building as such, at the risk of compromising continued discussions with the Palestinians.
Catherine Ashton takes the view that Palestinians and Israelis should act “in accordance with previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap”. The EU's position is quite clear, she concluded, saying: “Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible”. (F.B./transl.jl)