The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, currently on a visit to Brussels, called on European countries to recognize the State of Palestine quickly. Invited to an informal lunch with the European Union’s top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, and the foreign ministers of the 28 Member States, Abbas said there was “no contradiction between such a recognition and the resumption of peace negotiations” with Israel.
“It would encourage the people of Palestine to continue to hope for peace; it would pave the way for peace,” said the Palestinian president, who came to Brussels to seek support following Donald Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
As a prelude to their meeting, Mogherini recalled that the EU’s position remained unchanged. The EU continues to promote “a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of the two states,” she stressed.
Mogherini talked on the need to relaunch the dormant peace process, which Abbas himself had declared dead only a week ago. According to Mogherini, the only possibility to convene Israelis and Palestinians in direct peace negotatioations is through a multilateral framework including the US, the EU and other partners such as moderate Arab countries.
She said that the framework should be based on the Oslo-agreements but did not elaborate on the confidence building measures which would be necessary to bring the two reluctant parties to the negotiation table.
The Brussels Times
