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Last update - 07:14 28/03/2009
EU warns Netanyahu over stalled peace process
By Reuters
Tags: European Union 

The European Union warned Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that EU ties with Israel would suffer if he did not accept Palestinian calls for statehood.

Netanyahu this week said his future right-leaning Israeli government would negotiate peace with the Palestinians, but made no mention of a policy aim long backed by both the United States and Europe.

Asked how a failure to commit to the goal would affect EU-Israel ties, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said: "Relations would become very difficult indeed. At one of our next ministerial meetings we would have to discuss what consequences the EU would draw from that."
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Speaking after EU talks, Schwarzenberg did not elaborate but Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn said a long-mooted upgrading of EU-Israeli trade and political ties depended on Israel achieving a peace deal with the Palestinians.

"We must tell the Israelis that it is not allowed to walk away from the peace process... The upgrading process was always to be viewed from the perspective of the peace process having been completed," Asselborn told reporters.

The EU already put talks on an upgrade of ties with Israel on hold in January after its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in which Palestinian say some 1,300 inhabitants were killed. Thirteen Israelis were also killed in the hostilities. The campaign was a bid to halt cross-border rocket attacks by Gaza militants that have plagued southern Israel for years.

Netanyahu plans to present his new coalition government for parliamentary approval next week.

While he has shied away from backing the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, his Likud party agreed in a coalition deal with the Labor party to respect all of Israel's international agreements - a formula that includes accords envisaging Palestinian statehood.

"We Europeans are insisting that whatever the weighting is in the two governments [Israeli and Palestinian], the creation of a two-state solution must stand first and foremost," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

"We should not always have to start from the beginning again - that is my urgent appeal," he told reporters at talks with EU counterparts in the Czech Republic.


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      1.   Make real peace... 22:22  |  Toby 27/03/09
      2.   Real Politik 22:24  |  Ori 27/03/09
      3.   EU, GOOD LUCK 22:25  |  Ed 27/03/09
      4.   Good step, Now halt all Military aid to Israel~ 22:25  |  MOE 27/03/09
      5.   Luxembourg,heaven for money laundering,with Prince Jean called "G 22:30  |  Absolute Sweden 27/03/09
      6.   German foreign minister`s mistake 22:33  |  Colin Wright 27/03/09
      7.   "Walk away from the peace process"??? 22:38  |  Nemesis 27/03/09
      8.   Finally, We Hear Some Talk of Accountability 22:44  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/03/09
      9.   Yes, that is exactly the way to go, may the U.S. soon follow.... 22:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/03/09
      10.   Interesting: Israel and Gaza are the same now 22:51  |  MAN 27/03/09
      11.   European anti-Semites? 23:00  |  Ussishkin 27/03/09
      12.   as bibi says "if you give you get" 23:09  |  avram moshe 27/03/09
      13.   Israel is a Palestinian state 23:26  |  Vizard 27/03/09
      14.   No Brainer but the answer is "Depends" 23:31  |  Brad 27/03/09
      15.   Let them be equally adamant that Gaza stop firing missles 23:37  |  Ben 27/03/09
      16.   Demanding a Pali state is a hostile action 23:38  |  LP 27/03/09
      17.   Upgraded? You mean you`ll hate us less if we acquiesce? 23:42  |  david 27/03/09
      18.   EU and USA to israel: no free ride 23:43  |  bashar 27/03/09
      19.   two states solution, original plan. 23:46  |  Tzivi 27/03/09
      20.   Talk is cheap: From both the EU and Netanyahu 23:53  |  peacelover 27/03/09
      21.   Chutzpah 00:04  |  leo 28/03/09
      22.   back to front 00:09  |  ron 28/03/09
      23.   DON`T PUSH ISRAEL or they will kill more Palestinains 00:16  |  Sart 28/03/09
      24.   Promise them anything 00:20  |  Mark Lincoln 28/03/09
      25.   DOESN`T ANYONE GET IT? Foreigners are dictating your policies! 00:21  |  Marcella 28/03/09
      26.   Talk the Talk. 00:22  |  BazMann 28/03/09
      27.   EU warns Netanyahu 00:27  |  Jack Cohen 28/03/09
      28.   It`s about time 00:32  |  Ron 28/03/09
      29.   EU suspended upgrading ties in January nothing to do with Bibi 00:41  |  Jeff 28/03/09
      30.   The short-sightedness of a leftie pol from Luxembourg 00:43  |  Nemesis 28/03/09
      31.   Indicator 00:44  |  Moshe 28/03/09
      32.   Nothing to worry about 00:44  |  David 28/03/09
      33.   The Sharia law ? 01:03  |  GPS 28/03/09
      34.   the creation of a two-state solution must stand first and foremos 01:12  |  17 28/03/09
      35.   WB ARABS HAVE ONLY 2 REAL OPTIONS (A) HAMAS RULE (B) JORDAN RULE 01:19  |  G Marcus 28/03/09
      36.   Gutless EU 01:32  |  US CITIZEN 28/03/09
      37.   Israel Is Not in a Vacuum 01:54  |  Andrew 28/03/09
      38.   # 6 jeff 01:56  |  Axel 28/03/09
      39.   # 10 gps 01:58  |  Axel 28/03/09
      40.   to GPS 02:02  |  Arab 28/03/09
      41.   Are there alternatives to a two-state solution? 02:05  |  Andrea 28/03/09
      42.   stalled peace process 02:19  |  WHG 28/03/09
      43.   More hypocrites 02:22  |  David 28/03/09
      44.   Netanyahu and Hamas have one goal 02:41  |  jay 28/03/09
      45.   #2 Marcella 02:44  |  Cool B 28/03/09
      46.   Go Luxembourg! 02:53  |  k 28/03/09
      47.   #3 BazMazz, walk the walk? 03:11  |  Mark B. 28/03/09
      48.   The Czech are not learning from their history ! 03:20  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/09
      49.   Its time for pressure 03:27  |  Yossi 28/03/09
      50.   Netanyahu warns EU 03:30  |  les 28/03/09
      51.   The EU is broke, desperate, and falling apart. 03:30  |  a wandering Jew 28/03/09
      52.   #40 GO Luxembourg 03:32  |  frans 28/03/09
      53.   "EU warns Netanyahu..." 03:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/09
      54.   One can make "war" .... 03:47  |  Jasper 28/03/09
      55.   #42 Cool B - At what price that dependency? 04:08  |  Marcella 28/03/09
      56.   Way to Go EU, it`s About Time 04:11  |  Abe 28/03/09
      57.   EU is looking for excuse to harm Israel - 04:18  |  17 28/03/09
      58.   #24, Mark Lincoln, "promise them anything" 04:23  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/09
      59.   Everybody likes to threaten the Jews 04:46  |  steve from raleigh 28/03/09
      60.   #6, Colin Wright 04:52  |  Bruce 28/03/09
      61.   So whaats the solution, keep fighting untill dooms day? 05:00  |  Barbero 28/03/09
      62.   #40, Are there alternatives to a two-state solution? 05:05  |  Bruce 28/03/09
      63.   Easy for EU to say 05:05  |  Morris Valentine 28/03/09
      64.   Real peace or new Munich 05:22  |  Robert 28/03/09
      65.   tell them hitler died in 1945: peace by negotiation is impossible 06:03  |  v hardman 28/03/09
      66.   All EU is saying is to stay on peace plan, 06:08  |  Barbero 28/03/09
      67.   Dear Ben 06:09  |  Shimon Cleopas 28/03/09
      68.   now don`t go picking on the Czechs 06:28  |  historian 28/03/09
      69.   The EU Countries where anti-Semitism was born ! 06:44  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/09
      70.   Thumbs Up For Quantum Of Solace 07:37  |  Yosemite 28/03/09
      71.   Excellent. Next stop: Economic Embargo 07:37  |  Nour 28/03/09
      72.   Israel has no obligations? 07:59  |  Basil 28/03/09
      73.   Make Peace 08:29  |  Ron 28/03/09
      74.   Poor Nemesis, still a nutter... 09:06  |  BBSNews 28/03/09
      75.   I`m surprised at you Morris... 09:14  |  BBSNews 28/03/09
      76.   #6 Colin Wright - Be careful, you are sometimes right! 09:34  |  S 28/03/09
      77.   # 62 "Likud-Morris", sorry to say, my friend...... 10:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/09
      78.   6 million reasons why not to listen to the EU 10:35  |  Ken Jurist 28/03/09
      79.   # 50 wandering jew 10:39  |  Axel 28/03/09
      80.   Czechs who killed Heydrich would be turning over in their graves 10:39  |  David Stoler 28/03/09
      81.   M. Valentine #62 Netanyahu is a good expounder but you are better 10:54  |  S 28/03/09
      82.   Cipora #52 11:02  |  Esther 28/03/09
      83.   69 Ron 11:12  |  franz 28/03/09
      84.   # 62 "Likud" Morris, sorry to say, but I`m getting more..... 11:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/09
      85.   Esther 13:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/03/09
      86.   Bibi is right 13:12  |  Fritz 28/03/09
      87.   Esther #72 Do not underestimate Cipora!! 13:32  |  S 28/03/09
      88.   Obviously 13:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/09
      89.   #76 lintwit approves of blackmail and extortion 14:04  |  v hardman 28/03/09
      90.   To #52 CIPORA 14:23  |  Rob 28/03/09
      91.   # 62 "Likud" Morris (2nd try), sorry, but I`m really getting.... 14:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/09
      92.   #77 v hardman 14:45  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/09
      93.   you insist on EQUATING the palestinian people with hamas! (2nd tr 15:06  |  eric 28/03/09
      94.   NO to EU 15:07  |  Brod 28/03/09
      95.   PM.Designate Netanyahu and the peace process. 15:09  |  Stephen. 28/03/09
      96.   Victor Hardman aka Paul Harris---it IS our business 15:45  |  Labhras 28/03/09
      97.   Re: More hypocrite 15:58  |  Jacques 28/03/09
      98.   19 Original Plan 16:13  |  Ardi 28/03/09
      99.   it`ll be a miracle if bibi stalls peace process 16:19  |  snore eginssoon 28/03/09
      100.   Cipora #73, Morris #62, S #71 16:34  |  Esther 28/03/09
      101.   79 Esther - well done - fully agreed 17:01  |  Ardi 28/03/09
      102.   It is time the EU warn the Palestinians & NOT with velvet gloves 17:06  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/09
      103.   SOMETHING DOESN`T SEEM SO RIGHT AFTER 60 YEARS 17:18  |  indrajaya 28/03/09
      104.   S #71, 75 17:20  |  Esther 28/03/09
      105.   snore eginssoon, it is not a territory issue 17:34  |  Bruce 28/03/09
      106.   EU warns Bibi? 17:44  |  An American 28/03/09
      107.   #69, Ron, Make Peace 17:53  |  Bruce 28/03/09
      108.   #79,#80 Esther 18:02  |  Bruce 28/03/09
      109.   Exaggeration by GPS 18:17  |  Joan 28/03/09
      110.   Nice to see that the E U is not fooled 18:21  |  Konrad 28/03/09
      111.   US CITIZEN #36 18:22  |  Joan 28/03/09
      112.   Esther #80 18:23  |  S 28/03/09
      113.   Two-State Solution 18:33  |  The Gentile 28/03/09
      114.   US CITIZEN #36 18:42  |  Joan 28/03/09
      115.   Exaggeration by GPS 18:42  |  Joan 28/03/09
      116.   To BBSNews (# 70) 19:04  |  flyingdoc57 28/03/09
      117.   17 #75, forgot your economics, didn`t you? 19:28  |  Mark B. 28/03/09
      118.   Hardman also posts twaddle as Paul Harris 19:40  |  retro 28/03/09
      119.   Time is running out 20:08  |  Fred 28/03/09
      120.   Oye, S #83, we`ve got such a surfeit of blind fanatics... 20:17  |  Esther 28/03/09
      121.   to Akram Zekaria 20:29  |  james 28/03/09
      122.   Fritz #74, it depends a bit of your economical concept 22:20  |  christoph 28/03/09
      123.   EU to nowhere 22:22  |  Brod 28/03/09
      124.   The EU Presidency, in Czech hands-2nd try 22:24  |  a wandering Jew 28/03/09
      125.   That means a lot coming from a German... 22:34  |  Ari-Ben Canaan 28/03/09
      126.   88~James You twisted your self about nothing ! 22:39  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/09
      127.   "flyingdoc" yet another nutter... 22:42  |  BBSNews 28/03/09
      128.   am no dhimmi to support dhimmitude process 22:45  |  Joseph.E 28/03/09
      129.   #91 michael at bs/news doesnt know what indigenuous means 23:55  |  v hardman 28/03/09
      130.   No one talks about the quartet road map anymore. 00:04  |  Sarah 29/03/09
      131.   Ari-Ben Canaan (#89) on Germans 00:43  |  christoph 29/03/09
      132.   To BBSNews (#70, #91) 00:48  |  Morris Valentine 29/03/09
      133.   # 85 flyingdoc57...... re : BBSNews 01:03  |  allang 29/03/09
      134.   Can somebody explain 01:11  |  Even Playing Field 29/03/09
      135.   BBSnews - too nervous for good propagandist. 01:22  |  17 29/03/09
      136.   BBS is wrong 01:24  |  arik 29/03/09
      137.   #91.BBSNEWS. 02:01  |  Stephen. 29/03/09
      138.   Rather be a Dhimmi 02:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 29/03/09
      139.   # 85 flyingdoc57 ..... re : BBSNews [2] 02:37  |  allang 29/03/09
      140.   Netanyahu should tell the European Anti Semites to get lost 03:48  |  Laby Dinowitzer 29/03/09
      141.   The European Anti-Zionists are unhappy that Livni lost election 04:48  |  Harrold Kapinsky 29/03/09
      142.   Europe leading the way to peace 06:16  |  Mark B. 29/03/09
      143.   Bibi == Israel is at fault for all peace delays 07:41  |  binny 29/03/09
      144.   ANTI PALESTINIAN ZIONISTS 07:48  |  Oz 29/03/09
      145.   Bibi should warn EU 08:11  |  steve dill 29/03/09
      146.   NO too giving G-DS land away 08:55  |  Alan Townsend 29/03/09
      147.   eu foreign ministers hold seance with neville chamberlain 08:57  |  v hardman 29/03/09
      148.   qqqqqqqqq 21:40  |  qqqqqqqqq 17/05/09
      149.   qqqqqqqqq 21:42  |  qqqqqqqqq 17/05/09
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