Brussels, 30/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Hailing the resumption of direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis on 30 July, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz wished “strength, courage and determination” to the negotiators - Tzipi Livni from Israel and Saeb Erakat from Palestine - on 29 July. He also urged all the Palestinian and Israeli political forces “to show restraint, responsibility and foresightedness”. In Schulz's view, the commitment of the two parties, coupled with the ability and experience of US Secretary of State John Kerry “allow for cautious, but well-founded, optimism”. “Now, more than ever - in a region gripped by instability - peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians is urgently needed”, Schulz stated in his press release.
Schulz reiterated that the European Parliament will continue to support all the efforts to reach an agreement on all final status issues, ending all claims and fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of both parties.
Historic moment or first chapter of fresh failure. In the view of the leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda (Austria), the resumption of direct talks “may be a crucial step towards sustainable peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. It could be a historic moment or the first page of another chapter of failures in the peace process”. He urged the leaders of the two parties to continue on the path of “courageous decisions (…) in spite of powerful voices on both sides trying to undermine the prospects for a negotiated agreement”.
The negotiations resumed on 30 July. They should last at least nine months, according to a spokesperson from the US Department of State. On 29 July, Martin Indyk, who was the US ambassador in Israel, was appointed US envoy for peace in the Middle East. (CG/transl.fl)