Brussels, 27/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The 36th session of Euro-Israeli inter-parliamentary dialogue held in Jerusalem on 24 May welcomed in a statement the good results achieved by cooperation. Both parties welcomed the efforts carried out in common to develop bilateral relations, and were pleased to note the recent agreements concerning agriculture and technology. They expressed the wish to obtain the European Parliament's consent for agreements currently under examination.
On the political front, the statement underlines the changes that have come about in the Arab world, pointing at the risk that radical Islam could undermine the main objective of the revolts and put existing relations with Israel in danger. Regarding the Middle East, both delegations spoke of their concern about a unilateral proclamation of a Palestinian state and expressed their will for a solution to the conflict based on the two-state solution guaranteeing secure borders for the State of Israel, which should be achieved through direct negotiations and not unilateral steps, therefore without the usual reference by the European side to pre-1967 borders. The same reservation was expressed on inter-Palestinian reconciliation which would not be acceptable if it implied a change in the requirements fixed by the Quartet. (F.B./transl.jl)