The EU’s approach to Israel and the Palestinians: A move in the right direction By Clara Marina O’Donnell ★ The divisions amongst Palestinians and the reluctance of the new Israeli government to work towards a viable two-state solution weaken the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Nevertheless the EU should do its utmost to support US efforts to bring both parties to the negotiating table. ★ The EU should embrace Israel with ‘tough love’. Presenting itself as a true friend, it should make clear that it is keen to deepen bilateral relations and provide full assistance for peace talks, but insist on the need for Israel to fully recommit to the peace process. ★ Serious peace talks are impossible while the Palestinians remain divided. The EU must actively support Palestinian reconciliation and consider suspending its assistance to Palestinian police forces until a unity government is formed to avoid deepening divisions between Hamas and Fatah. US President Barack Obama is firmly committed to making progress towards peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since taking office, he has repeatedly emphasised the need to work towards a two-state solution – most recently in his first speech to the Muslim world in Cairo on June 4th, in which he said that he would “personally pursue” this objective. President Obama also looks set to take on the role of a more neutral mediator than his predecessors. He has made clear that while Israel and the US enjoy an unbreakable bond, he expects Israel to deliver on its commitments to peace, notably by stopping the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. However, conditions in the Middle East are far from propitious for peace talks. For the last three years Palestinians have been divided and feuding. Hamas, despite being isolated by the international community, is still strong and in control of the Gaza Strip. Disorder and radicalisation are spreading across the Strip, where the social fabric has been severely weakened by the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s border closures and military conflict between Hamas and the Israeli army. Meanwhile, the new Israeli government is only reluctantly endorsing a two-state solution. In a speech on June 14th, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant concession. Breaking with his longstanding opposition, he agreed to the goal of an independent Palestinian state. But some of the conditions which he attached to this state – such as his insistence that all of Jerusalem should remain the capital of Israel – would make it unacceptable to Palestinians, while other conditions even raise questions about such a state’s viability. In particular, Netanyahu continues to oppose freezing the growth of settlements, despite unprecedented US pressure. In addition, the Israeli government has shown no inclination to loosen the tight blockade on Gaza, while some parties in the coalition are hostile to Israel’s Arab minority. The EU, which has long sought to help end the Middle East conflict, will welcome the US commitment to achieving peace – particularly as it comes from an administration which has more in common with
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