EU Foreign Ministers met in Brussels yesterday to discuss the situation in Syria, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, just one day after more than 70 countries gathered in Paris to discuss ways of restarting the long-stalled political process toward an internationally aspired two state solution. Prior to the meeting, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who attended the Paris summit, said that Israel’s settlement building policy must not undermine efforts to relaunch peace-negotiations with the Palestinians, while stressing the validity of Israel’s security concerns.
“Everybody knows that negotiations cannot be forced from the outside, that it has to be the will of the conflicting parties, to create rules and negotiating results in which Israel and Palestine can coexist peacefully in the Middle East. Everybody knows that the Israeli security situation is a part of that in the same way as the fact that the construction of settlements must not undermine the basis of such negotiations,” said Steinmeier.
One of the main statements that emerged following the meeting in Brussels was a condemnation of President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, warning of potential consequences in large parts of the world. Trump has pledged to pursue more pro-Israeli policies than his predecessor, including the declaration that Jerusalem will always be the ‘undivided capital of Israel’. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini stressed, during a press conference, that the EU delegation would not move from Israel’s central city of Tel Aviv, while stressing that it is imperative for all parties to refrain from unilateral actions pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We will for sure not move our delegation that is in Tel Aviv. And we hope that there can be a reflection on consequences on any move that is taken — we still do not have a new U.S. administration but they have an administration in the U.S., not a new one yet — and I believe that it is very important for us all to refrain from unilateral actions, especially those that can have serious consequences in large sectors of public opinions in large parts of the world,” said the EU Foreign Policy Chief.
Mogherini warned that Trump’s promise to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, would in fact contradict the international consensus that Jerusalem is a ‘disputed city’ and not recognized as Israel’s capital, warning of a possible reaction in the Arab world, Africa, Asia, as well as parts of Europe.
“For sure I am worried that large parts as I say of not only institutions but public opinion in parts of the world that are quite significant – the Arab world but also Africa, Asia, parts of Europe – could have in reaction of a move that for sure would not be in line with as I said, the international consensus,” added Mogherini.
