European governments welcomed over the weekend the announcement of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said
the talks, which are set to begin in Washington on September 2, are a “courageous step” towards a lasting peace.
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“I warmly welcome the decision by Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu
and [Palestinian Authority] President [Mahmoud] Abbas to move to direct
talks, and the Quartet statement earlier today,” Hague said on Friday.
“A two-state solution is the only hope for lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
Today’s announcement is a courageous step towards that goal.”
Hague called on both sides not to jeopardize the opportunity.
“Urgent progress must now be made. We call on all parties to refrain
from any activity that could undermine negotiations,” he said.
“The UK stands ready to do all we can to support the parties and
buttress these important talks, working with the United States and our
other EU and UN international partners.”
Hague is set to visit Israel next month, his first official visit to the region as foreign secretary.
He will also visit the Gaza Strip, at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
If the visit goes ahead, Hague would visit the Hamas-controlled
territory as part of a group of European foreign ministers from France,
Germany, Italy and Spain.
Lieberman’s proposal also includes visits to Sderot and Ashdod.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner issued a statement saying
“France hails the launch of the direct talks between Israel and the
Palestinians.
“I also salute the American effort which allowed this enterprise to get
under way, crucial as it is to peace in the region,” Kouchner was quoted
by AFP as saying.
“To be useful and to succeed these talks should address all elements
linked to final status, on the basis of the parameters agreed by the
international community. I call on both parties to act responsibly so
these negotiations can make rapid progress with a view to creating a
viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state living in peace and
security alongside Israel.” Kouchner noted that French President
Nicholas Sarkozy had recently held meeting with both Netanyahu and
Abbas.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement quoted by AFP that
the task now that talks have been announced was to “prove the capacity
for necessary compromise,” after “possible solutions on unresolved
questions” have already been suggested in previous rounds of
negotiations.
Merkel praised US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been
shuttling between Jerusalem and Ramallah for several months. She
encouraged the ex-senator to “continue tirelessly” on the same path.