EU is ‘All Talk’, Failed to Help Palestine: PA Leader Abbas
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Roshan Amiri
- . September 19, 2023
- . Update: September 19, 2023 5:31 pm
As the EU, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are looking to jump-start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, PA President Mahmoud Abbas rebuked Brussels for being “all talk”. He said EU interlocutors assured him time and again that they were committed to Palestine’s presidency and parliamentary elections.
The Palestinian Authority leader told EU officials he would go ahead with the elections only if Israel allowed balloting to take place in East Jerusalem. But the Israeli government has prevented PA activity in this area as it considers part of Israel’s sovereign capital.
Abbas said he had assurance from the EU that it would look into the matter. But he was later on told that Brussels could not persuade Israel to move. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to allow Palestinian balloting to take place in East Jerusalem. As such, the EU pushed Abbas to hold elections by having Palestinians in the disputed region vote by mail as they have done so in the past.
However, the PA president refused to give in. He rebuked the bloc for failure. Abbas, known for his “sweet words” also called the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken a “little boy” for failing to resolve the Israeli-Palestine conflict for peace.
Palestine Statehood – Israel Opposition
The Palestinian Authority reiterated support for a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 lines. Besides, Europe, Australia and the US, countries in the Middle East are also pushing for a two-state solution. Egypt, Jordan, and the Arab League joined Saudi Arabia and the EU’s new initiative “Peace Day Effort” to give a go at the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
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Josep Borrell, EU Foreign Policy Chief, said they cannot stay idle and repeat the mantra of the Two-State Solutions without doing all they can. He called for a stronger commitment by many people to engage more on the “solution” – two-state, which is the only viable solution. “There is not an alternative to a two-state resolution to the conflict and there is not a viable other solution.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud believes there cannot be a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without an independent Palestinian state. He said the two-state solution must return to the forefront. The top Saudi diplomat said a just peace is possible.
Initiative for Israel – Palestine Peace
Borrell said everyone has to work for peace between Israel and Palestine, everyone has to make a contribution – Arabs, Americans and the Europeans etc. The EU has established three working groups on politics, security, economy and environment.
The new initiative called “Peace Supporting Package” will offer various benefits to Palestinians and Israelis, if they reach a peace agreement. It also includes incentives for Syria and Lebanon to make peace with Israel.
