Brussels, 23/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana had to face virulent criticism on Thursday from the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ariel Sharon and Sylvan Shalom, on the matter of EU support to the Palestinian resolution adopted on Tuesday by the United Nations General Assembly (EUROPE of 23 July, p.9). The meeting, scheduled for some time, focused on the EU's unanimous vote in favour of the Palestinian resolution. During the meeting, Messrs Sharon and Shalom questioned the EU's ability to remain a player in the Middle East peace process after this vote while Mr Solana defended the European position.
"The main significance of the decision (…) is to give approval for Palestinian terrorism", Mr Sharon states in a press release from his services cited by Reuters. He goes on to add that it is in Israel's interest to involve the international community and especially Europe in the peace process with Palestinians but that "without a radical change in the European position especially concerning Israeli defence (…) this will be difficult to achieve". "The security fence crosses the occupied territories and, from the very beginning, we have been against this", Mr Solana recalled at the press conference given in Mr Shalom's presence. "All countries of Europe support the right of Israel to defend itself but you must take into account, in addition to your security needs, the humanitarian needs" of the Palestinians, he added reported by AFP.
Javier Solana also spoke of the crisis that the Palestinian Authority is now going through. The Palestinian Authority is faced with demonstrations denouncing corruption as well as the resignation put forward by Prime Minster Ahmed Koreï, despite the refusal by Yasser Araft, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, to accept it. Mr Solana, who on the eve of his Middle East trip had urged that Mr Koreï should have greater power, pointed out that his resignation could lead the EU to review its position compared to the Palestinian Authority and its Chairman "If this (Mr Koreï's resignation) comes about, we should rethink a great deal", he said reported by Reuters. Begged to say whether he was referring to Mr Arafat, he answered "yes and many other things".