On Thursday 4 May, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende underlined the EU and Norway's “very strong commitment” to relaunching the political negotiation process for settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution.
“There is a very strong commitment from the EU and Norway but the efforts of donors alone (Ed: for assistance to the Palestinian economy and people) will not enable the crisis to be settled. What counts now is that everything be done to fuel a political process that has to be re-started on the basis of negotiations [between Israelis and Palestinians] and a two-state solution”, Mogherini said before the annual meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for assistance to the Palestinian people – a meeting that brings together representatives from countries of the EU, the USA, Russia, key actors in the Middle East, and UN organisations.
“The EU and Norway can wield the power of attraction to all the parties to relaunch these negotiations and encourage the actors here, not only on the financial aspects, but also on the political processes, at a time when we see new political developments looming”, Mogherini added.
“It is very important to give hope, which is only possible if there is a political horizon. What is important, for this process to move forwards, is also to relaunch economic growth and jobs, and to give the Palestinians prospects. There need to be new investment opportunities, there need to be more donors to advance commitments to support Palestinian political and economic development”, Brende stated.
"We must make a collective effort [in the framework of the AHLC]. It is the only instance when an Israeli minister and a Palestinian minister come together and meet their international partners. It is a very relevant forum", Mogherini stated.
"The Middle East peace process remains a fundamental priority for the EU. A two-state solution is the only way viable for finding a lasting and just peace. This path is essential. The Israelis and Palestinians need to stop their current negatives tendencies. The settlement building must stop, as must the incitation to violence, the divisions in Palestine must be reduced, and an answer must be given to the humanitarian and security situation in Gaza", she added.
"The deadlock needs to be overcome. But we must draw up a new political horizon with a two-state political solution, and we must lay the outlines of it", Brende stated.
"The situation on the ground is currently not good. There are big challenges that are not easy to meet, but there are also avenues of hope", Mogherini added, saying she was "encouraged" by the meeting, in Washington the previous day, between US President Donald Trump and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
Responding to the recent announcement by Hammas that it would accept the 1967 borders as part of a Palestinian State, Mogherini said she "awaited the practical political consequences" resulting from this "position which brings something new to the previous position", of which she thought "certain elements [were] very interesting". (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)