EU to continue MidEast peace process despite Israel’s suspension of ties

Europe, Middle East, News December 2, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

The European Union vowed to continue its role in the Middle East peace process on Monday despite Israel’s suspending contact. EU foreign policy head Federica Mogherini met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the Paris climate talks and promised to continue the bloc’s work to end conflict in the region.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to clarify his declaration to suspend all contacts with the EU on the Palestinian issue in response to the EU’s recent decision to label products made in Israel’s settlements in the West Bank.

“When it comes to the Middle East peace process, the EU continues and will continue to work on this in the Quartet with our partners with both parties because, of course, peace in the Middle East is of interest to the whole international community,” an EU foreign policy spokesperson told reporters in Brussels.

The spokesperson said relations between the regional bloc and Israel remain “good” despite the spat over new EU labeling standards.

Israeli PM Netanyahu Suspends ties with European Union

Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the suspension of ties with all European institutions.

The decision from the Foreign Ministry, which is also headed by Netanyahu, comes on the heels of an EU move to label products of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, viewed as illegal under international law. Israel branded the new labels “discriminatory” and politically motivated, despite Europe’s assertion that it was a simple matter of following EU commercial codes.

Emmanuel Nahshon, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman issued a statement saying that Israel would “suspend diplomatic contacts with EU institutions and their representatives” until the completion of a “re-evaluation process.”

The directive, he emphasized, followed “the EU’s decision on the product labeling. It is important to clarify Israel maintains diplomatic contacts with individual countries in Europe such as Germany, Britain and France, but not with the EU institutions.”

EU will not give up peace role

But Mogherini defended the EU’s position in the peace process on Monday during her conversation with Netanyahu. “EU-Israel relations are good, broad and deep and this will continue,” her spokeswoman said at a Brussels press briefing.

When it comes to the Middle East peace process, the EU saidit will continue to work on this in the Quartet with partners for peace in the Middle East.

The decision taken by the Israeli authorities came on the U.N.-sponsored International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians.

On Saturday, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) announced that Israeli security forces have detained over 1,200 children since Oct. 1, with the Palestinian Health Ministry confirming that over 100 Palestinians have been killed and a further 10,000 injured over the past two months