European Union plan to call for the division of Jerusalem : A Step Forward ?
The Foreign Ministry of Israel on Tuesday lashed out at a European Union plan to call for the division of Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians, saying such a move would harm the chances of renewing Middle East peace negotiations. EU foreign ministers are expected to issue an official call next week for Jerusalem to be divided, in order to serve as the capitals of both Israel and a Palestinian state. A draft document authored by the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, Sweden, and implying that the EU would recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood, has been obtained by Haaretz. "The process being led by Sweden harms the European Union's ability to take part as a significant mediator in the political process between Israel and the Palestinians," said a statement by Israel's Foreign Ministry.
"Israel is waging a diplomatic campaign to keep the EU from issuing such an endorsement, but diplomats close to the EU deliberations believe it is almost inevitable.
The EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on December 7 for a two-day meeting in Brussels on the peace process, after which a statement outlining the body's Mideast policy is expected. The Swedish draft represents the first official EU articulation of a solution for one of the core issues of the final-status arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians. The document expressed the EU's concern over the stalemate in the peace process and calls for the immediate renewal of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in accordance with a prescribed timetable. The goal, it states, is "an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital." The draft refers directly to the situation in East Jerusalem, calling on "all parties to refrain from provocative actions" and stating the EU Council "has never recognized the annexation of East Jerusalem. If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as capital of two states. The Council calls for the reopening of Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem in accordance with the road map. It also calls on the Israeli government to cease all discriminatory treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem." On the issue of borders, the document states that the EU will not accept any changes made by Israel to the 1967 borders unless they have PA approval. The EU, it says, welcomes PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's proposal of a unilateral declaration of statehood and would "be able, at the appropriate time, to recognize a Palestinian state."
If EU does take this stand it will be a step forward.We are simply at a loss why common place things require so much time for Europe or US to understand. Why negotiation require so much time for solving the Palestinian issue. The main party is Arabs or Palestinians. The Israel or Israelis are primarily a foreign imported group which has been established by the West by force and by their totally dominated UN in 1948.Why it would take time to settle the border when West Bank borders are well-known, when it is basic right of all to return to homeland, when settlements in West Bank are all illegal? It is a total failure of western morality in international relations. We hope the West realizes their colossal failures and immorality even late.
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