Politics

Today the UN General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution according Non-Member
Observer State status in the United Nations to Palestine. This comes at a time when the
latest escalation in the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused the death of a large
number of innocent civilians. This is a bitter reminder of the urgent necessity to move
forward towards the end of the conflict. Only a political solution to the conflict can bring
lasting security, peace and prosperity to Palestinians and Israelis. A comprehensive
negotiated peace, which is a fundamental interest of the EU, as well as the parties in the
region, must and can be achieved on the basis of a two-state solution with the State of
Israel and a sovereign, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, both living in
agreed borders and enjoying peace and security.
The EU has repeatedly expressed its support and wish for Palestine to become a full
member of the United Nations as part of a solution to the conflict. The EU has also
consistently worked to advance the Palestinian Authority's state-building efforts under
Prime Minister Fayyad. It will continue to do so. Recalling the Berlin Declaration
of March 1999, the EU reiterates its readiness to recognize a Palestinian State when
appropriate.
Looking ahead after today’s vote, it is important for all parties and actors involved to work
towards a settlement of the conflict with renewed purpose and sense of urgency. The
European Union recalls its well-known positions on intra-Palestinian reconciliation behind
President Abbas, settlements and Israel’s security. The European Union calls on all parties
to pursue actions conducive to an environment of confidence necessary to ensure
meaningful negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine the credibility of the
process. The European Union urges both sides to seek constructive ways to overcome the
current obstacles for a resumption of direct negotiations without delay or preconditions. It
welcomes in this regard the positive statements previously made by President Abbas and
Prime Minister Netanyahu and urges them to maintain these commitments.
The EU reaffirms its position that clear parameters defining the basis for negotiations are
key elements for a successful outcome, together with the avoiding of unilateral measures
and acts on the ground which undermine confidence and the viability of the two-state
solution. The European Union reaffirms that it will not recognise any changes to the
pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties
and recalls its position on negotiations, including the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs
Council in December 2009, in May 2012 as well as the statement delivered on behalf of
the EU at the UN Security Council on 21 April 2011.
The European Union will work actively, within the Quartet and with international partners,
in support of efforts to bring about substantive negotiations in the coming months.