European Union foreign ministers on Monday urged the United States to join a new effort to restart stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan as the basis for any international process.
In comments he made after chairing video discussions between the ministers and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Europeans “recognize the merit of the U.S. plan because it has created a certain momentum where there was nothing,” according to an AP report.
However, Borrell went on to say that “this momentum can be used to start a joint international effort on the basis of existing internationally agreed parameters,” namely a two-state solution, based along the 1967 lines, with the possibility of mutually agreed land-swaps.
“We made clear that it is important to encourage the Israelis and the Palestinians to engage in a credible and meaningful political process,” Borrell said. “For us, there is no other way than to resume talks.”
Israel has repeatedly called on the Palestinians to join it at the negotiation table, to no avail.
