Brussels, 25/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 25 April, the EU called for the continuation of the Middle East peace negotiations. However, Israel announced that it was suspending the talks, following the Palestinian reconciliation agreement. “The EU wants to see the negotiations continuing beyond 28 April”, said Michael Mann, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, who stated that this was the EU's main priority. Mann added that the EU is following developments on the ground.
Fully supporting the US mediation efforts, Mann stated that “most important is the continuation of the negotiations. We hope that it will be possible to resume the talks soon”. “The EU urges all parties to work towards this end and refrain from further unilateral measures”, he added.
Mann stated that the EU has taken note of the Israeli government's decision “to suspend their participation in the talks pending further clarity on the reconciliation deal”. “Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organisation that calls for Israel's destruction”, said a press release from the office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mann reiterated that the EU has called for intra-Palestinian reconciliation, “an essential step” for a two-state solution, and he said that such reconciliation is important for the unity of a future Palestinian state. He stated that democratic elections are crucial (see EUROPE 11066) and that the EU is studying the details of the reconciliation plan. (CG)