The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said on Monday 27 March that Palestinians were ready for peace and hoped Israelis were too.
Abbas explained at a press conference in Brussels with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini that they were continuing discussions for the success of US and international efforts, and he had assured US President Donald Trump that they were ready for a peace agreement. He said the Palestinians were ready for security and peace, which would only come through justice, equality and good neighbourly relations, and they hoped the government of Israel and the Israeli people would not miss this opportunity for peace.
Abbas and Mogherini had discussed, he said, developments in international efforts to find the best way to reach a fair and overarching peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the light of the US Administration’s plan under Trump to work for peace. The High Representative welcomed the fact that the US Administration was showing an interest in resolving the Middle East peace process, adding that what the process needed at the moment was strong coordination and strong unity among the parties of the region and the international community. Mogherini said peace in the Middle East was a top priority for the EU and its member states.
The president of the Palestinian Authority and the High Representative recalled the importance of a two-state solution with Jerusalem as capital, and criticised the Israeli settlements. Abbas said the pursuit of settlement activities and expropriation of Palestinian land was leading to a single state solution with an apartheid system. He said repression and occupation would not bring peace and security. Mogherini pointed out again that the EU did not recognise the settlements, which are illegal under international law.
Mogherini hailed the direction and commitment of Abbas in terms of non-violence and his difficult work to ensure that young Palestinians in particular remained committed to peace and cooperation in the region. She said this was a difficult task, particularly with a deteriorating economic and political situation, adding that the EU would continue to aid the Palestinians. The president of the Palestinian Authority thanked the EU for its support for building Palestinian institutions and developing the economy so that Palestine can become a full state. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)