EU-DIGEST: EU wants Israel to back creation of Palestinian State

4/26/09

EU wants Israel to back creation of Palestinian State - before considering upgrade of ties

(AFP) Israel must back the creation of a Palestinian state and recommit to the Middle East peace process before the EU caneven consider to deepen its ties with the Jewish state, the European Commission said Thursday.

Late last year EU nations agreed to possibly enhance ties with Israel, but the idea has been a dead letter since the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in December and January, leaving over 1,300 Palestinians dead, according to Palestinian figures. "We believe that good and trustful relations with Israel are essential in order to make our voice heard," the EU's External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters in Brussels. "We do not believe, however, that the time is indeed ripe to go beyond the current level of relations," she added.

"Too much remains unclear at this current point in time. And we expect indeed a clear commitment from the new government to pursue the negotiations with the Palestinians," EU commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said. "We expect a stop of all activities undermining our objective of a two-state solution," she added, citing the expansion of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories "which is continuing on a daily basis."

"Israel knows what we have to offer and we have shown our very good will and our commitment to reinforce our relations but we think that the ball is now in the court of Israel," she said.