EU: Upgrade of ties with Israel dependent on 2-state solution
European Union ambassador to Israel, Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal, has no problems with FM Lieberman's request the world stop 'standing with a stopwatch' for Israel to formulate its new foreign policy. However, he says, there are clear expectations to see PM Netanyahu endorse a Palestinian state
Europe is exercising patience in waiting for Israel to put together its new policies, but it certainly has expectations.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Jerusalem, European Union Ambassador Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal indicated that the upgrading of the union's ties with Israel would be dependent on the new government's foreign policy, in the hopes that it will continue to be based on the two-state solution as the blueprint for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"It is stated clearly in the annex to the European Union Council's conclusions regarding the strengthening of bilateral relations with Israel from December 2008," the ambassador said.
"Routine cooperation and relations are very good and its 'business as usual'," he insisted.
Cibrian-Uzal said the EU had no issue with the new foreign minister's statements regarding the involvement of foreign nations in the peace process.
"The Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, requested that there will be no stopwatch. That seems to me a legitimate request and we do not have a stopwatch.
"But we do have two clear expectations. One is that the Israeli government show restraint when it is exercising its right for self defense. I have seen Israel show restraint many times in the years I have been here, but unfortunately there were times it didn't, like in December and January in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead."
The second expectation, he said, "concerns the issue of the Palestinian state. "We expect that any foreign policy will keep alive the hope of Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security."
The ambassador said that Israel is expected to halt all construction in the West Bank settlements, and further said that the EU does not differentiate between general expansion and natural expansion due to population growth.
"In PM (Ehud) Olmert's time there was no freeze of settlement activities, and that was not in accordance with the Road Map," he said.
"We have to give credit to the efforts made and the results achieved in the West Bank thanks to the leadership of (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas and (Palestinian Prime Minister Salam) Fayyad, and thanks to the forming of effective security mechanisms under the assistance of EUPOL COPPS, our American partners and with the cooperation of Israel."
