The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) are set to hold separate discussions today with both Israeli and Palestinian counterparts to assess the possibilities of achieving a lasting peace in the region.
The talks come in the wake of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of calls for a future Palestinian state.
The 27 EU ministers will begin discussions with Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, followed by separate meetings with Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Authority’s top diplomat. Notably, Katz and Maliki are not expected to have a direct encounter during these deliberations.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels will witness both Katz and Maliki addressing the council individually.
The meeting, primarily focused on the Middle East, will include counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the Arab League Secretary-General. Furthermore, discussions will touch upon the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
A significant aspect of the gathering is presenting a ten-point peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell.
The plan addresses the longstanding conflict and proposes practical solutions for lasting peace in the region.
The European Union has faced challenges in achieving a unified stance on the Gaza conflict, with countries like Germany, strong supporters of Israel, rejecting immediate calls for a ceasefire, as demanded by Spain and Ireland.
EU officials have outlined broad conditions for the post-war scenario in Gaza, emphasizing a halt to hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages, an end to Hamas’s rule, and the involvement of the Palestinian Authority in the administration of Gaza.
Central to the plan is the proposal for a “preparatory peace conference” organized by the EU, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the League of Arab States.
The United States and the United Nations are also invited to serve as conveners. Notably, the conference would proceed even if Israelis or Palestinians declined to participate, with both parties being consulted at every stage of the talks.
A leaked internal document, reportedly seen by multiple news organizations, including Reuters, reveals that a critical objective of the peace plan is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, coexisting peacefully and securely alongside Israel.
Josep Borrell’s plan, according to Euronews, envisions full normalization between Israel and Arab states, creating an “initial framework” for Israeli-Palestinian peace within one year.
The proposed agreement would include “robust security assurances” for both states and be contingent upon full mutual diplomatic recognition and integration of Israel and Palestine in the region.
However, given the existing divisions among the 27 EU member states, it remains uncertain whether Borrell’s roadmap will garner widespread support.
A high-ranking EU official acknowledged the complexity of the diplomatic efforts, expressing no expectations of immediate breakthroughs.
“The idea is to have a full discussion with all the participants, the Israelis, Palestinians, the Arabs, to exchange points of view and to try to understand better where everybody is,” stated the official.
As the diplomatic ballet unfolds, the international community keenly watches the outcomes of these deliberations, recognizing the significance of finding a sustainable and politically viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The pursuit of peace remains a challenging yet imperative goal for the EU and the broader Middle East region.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members