Brussels, 16/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU Troika (composed of Czech Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, CFSP High Representative Javier Solana, Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt), met the foreign ministers of Egypt, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Palestinian Authority, Riad Al-Malki and Jordan, Nasser Judeh in Brussels on Sunday evening 15 March. Their discussion focused on the situation in Gaza and East Jerusalem, the inter-Palestinian reconciliation process, and prospects for resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The EU greatly appreciates the hard work done by Egypt to facilitate inter-Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and trusts that an agreement on the formation of a Palestinian national unity government, built around the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, may be concluded before the Arab League summit to be held at the end of the month in Doha, Mr Schwarzenberg explained to the press after the meeting. The members of this future Palestinian government should, however, all undertake to respect the commitment made by the PLO in the past, renounce violence and accept the “two state solution” whereby Israel and a Palestinian State may live together in “peace and security”, stressed Schwarzenberg, the president-in-office of the EU Council.
Riad Al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, was severely critical of the Israeli prime minister designate, Benjamin Netanyahou, who is currently holding a consultation exercise with the extreme-right parties (such as the Avigdor Lieberman formation) and ultra-orthodox formations with a view to forming a new government. “The common denominator between all these parties is that they share the same principles. They are against the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. They do not envisage a two-state solution. They do not see any need for negotiation with the Palestinians to reach peace, and they believe in using force as a means to achieve political gains”, the Palestinian minister said. The Palestinians “are not interested in discussing with such an anti-peace government”, Mr Al-Malki said. He also called on the international community to “put on the pressure so that a new Israeli government is committed to peace with the Palestinians”. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Mr Schwarzenberg refused to “judge” the future Israeli government in advance. “As holder of EU presidency, it is not my role to judge a new Israeli government. As I explained to Mr Al-Malki, we must accept our partners, whoever they are”, he said. Mr Schwarzenberg nonetheless expressed the hope that the future governmental team “will work for peace and for the two-state solution”. Javier Solana, High Representative for CFSP, was more threatening, saying that, if the future Israeli government does not support the two-state solution, “the way the EU deals with it (i.e. the Hebrew State) will be very different”.
Mr Al-Malki, the Palestinian minister, also complained to the press that Israel is still blocking access to Gaza for building materials. The very positive results of the recent international donors' conference in favour of rebuilding Gaza may be “completely undermined” if this blockade continues, he said. He was also highly critical of the activities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank where Israel is “creating a new reality” by destroying houses belonging to Palestinians and by forcing some of them to leave. The EU is putting pressure on Israel to bring these illegal activities to an end as they “undermine the peace process”. (H.B./transl.jl)