Brussels, 07/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 March Israeli President Shimon Peres rejected the contention that the settlements are an obstacle to peace. “I don't take this criticism that, because of the settlements, we lost the chance of implementing the two-state solution (…) The most important difficulty is not settlements but terror”, he said, after his meeting with President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. He also regretted that the Palestinians or Hamas did not take advantage of the dismantling of the settlements in Gaza to create an independent Palestinian state instead of converting it into a base for launching missiles against Israel.
During their meeting on 7 March, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso reiterated that “any actions that may undermine the two-state solution should, clearly, be avoided”. “We need to avoid that a one-state reality prevents a two-state solution”, Barroso added, implying settlement-building - especially the one which will cut the West Bank in two. The previous day, Van Rompuy had reiterated the EU's opposition to “the illegal expansion of the settlements”.
In Peres' view, the elections are an opportunity for the resumption of the negotiations. Peres appears optimistic about the negotiations and said that he did not think that the possibility of having peace was over. On the contrary, he said that, after the elections in the United States and Israel, there was a new chance of re-opening the negotiations. During his meeting with Barroso, he said they could see the beginning and they could see the destination, instead of the scepticism, and that it could be done. Barroso stated that the EU awaits the formation of a “broad and stable” coalition government, which is committed to a negotiated settlement for the Middle East peace process. He added that Peres is also committed to achieving peace. “So my call here today is to use our energy, our capacity and our leadership to resume negotiations on the Middle East peace process”, Barroso added.
Peres also hoped that the EU will play a role in the completion of the peace process. He said there was no disagreement between them regarding the Middle East but perhaps divisions over tactics - although not at the overall strategy level. He underlined that the only solution is the two-state solution.
Israeli call to EU for measures against Hezbollah. Peres also wanted the EU to condemn Hezbollah. He spoke of the attack on a bus of Israeli tourists in Bulgaria on 18 July, and also of Hezbollah's participation in the Syrian conflict without the authorisation of the Lebanese government. He also spoke of an attack in Cyprus (which is under on-going investigation).
Stating that, in order to amend the list of terrorist organisations, member state unanimity is required, Barroso said that the possibility of naming Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation needs very careful reflection, given the legal, political and security issues involved. Stressing that the investigation into the bus attack is still on-going, he said that the EU will, then, have to take a political decision. Reiterating that the attack cannot go unpunished, Barroso stated that once it is known who is responsible, putting them on the list of terrorist organisations will be considered. The military branch of Hezbollah is banned in the United Kingdom and the whole organisation is outlawed in the Netherlands, but other countries - including France and Sweden - are more reluctant to put Hezbollah on the terrorist list, given the work of the political branch in Lebanon. (CG/transl.fl)