Peace process
July 13, 2009
In response to a suggestion from the European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said "a peace agreement can come only following direct negotiations and cannot be imposed."
During a speech in London on Saturday, Solana said it was up to the mediator to set a timetable for peace.
"After a fixed deadline, a UN Security Council resolution should proclaim the adoption of the two-state solution." Solana said, adding that such a resolution should include all the parameters of borders, refugees, Jerusalem and security arrangements.
"It would accept the Palestinian state as a full member of the UN and set a calendar for implementation."
Speaking on Israeli radio on Monday, Lieberman said "with all due respect to Solana, he is about to retire...and we should not overstate the importance of his statement.
'Artificial' road to peace
While Israel, which is under pressure from Washington to move the Middle East peace process forward, is deeply opposed to any "artificial" attempt to reach agreement over the future of the region, the Palestinian reaction has been quite different.
A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the proposed UN resolution would be "one option" were Israel to block its vision of a two-state solution.
"Europe, as a member of the international quartet must continue in its efforts to apply pressure to Israel to freeze the settlements and stop wasting time," Nabil Abu Rudeina told the AFP news agency.
Peace talks between the two sides stalled in December and the Palestinians have made it clear that they will not resume negotiations until Israel halts the construction of settlements on occupied land.
tkw/reuters/AFP
Editor: Neil King