Brussels, 18/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Union strongly condemned the suicide attack for which the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility, and which caused nine deaths and a large number of wounded in Tel Aviv on Monday. EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Israeli people and called on all parties to “prevent any new descent into a senseless spiral of violence”. The European Commission also condemned the attack “in the strongest possible way” and urged both sides to renounce violence. Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament, considers that such terrorist acts hinder efforts being made towards a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Middle East conflict. The large majority of Israelis and Palestinians hope to see a lasting peace established through dialogue and negotiation, Mr Borrell said, adding that it is not by killing civilians that such hopes will be fulfilled. The Austrian EU Council Presidency restated its call on the Palestinian government to accept the Quartet's criteria for the Middle East Peace Process, including the renunciation of violence, in order to permit progress towards a peaceful solution.