Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 16, 2009 Sivan 24, 5769 | | Israel Time: 22:22 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 19:51 15/06/2009
EU postpones upgrading ties with Israel
By Reuters
Tags: Barack Obama 

European Union foreign ministers welcomed on Monday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conditional endorsement of a future Palestinian state, but said it was not enough to raise EU-Israel ties to a higher level.

The ministers, who were due to meet Israel's foreign minister later on Monday, questioned conditions cited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for backing a Palestinian state and also his defence of Jewish settlements on occupied land.

Netanyahu has refused to back a state for Palestinians since taking office in March, but said on Sunday he would endorse it if Israel received guarantees the new nation would have no army and Palestinians recognised Israel as a Jewish state.
Advertisement
"That's good but it's only a first step," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country take over the EU presidency in July, said before the talks in Luxembourg.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said it was "not sufficient."

"Nothing was said on the settlements ... but this stopping of the settlements is essential," said Kouchner, who in an earlier statement rejected any pre-conditions to peace negotiations.

The EU and Israel have agreed in principle to upgrade an "association agreement" defining their ties, a move that would bring trade benefits for both sides.

But the 27-nation bloc has put the upgrade on ice and says it wants a firm commitment from Israel to seek a so-called two-state peace accord with the Palestinians.

"We must say quite clearly today there can only be talk of an upgrade when the peace process is on its way, and for that we need a few steps more," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

Asked if Netanyahu's move was sufficient for the EU to upgrade ties with Israel, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said: "No".

The EU ministers were due to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for talks in Luxembourg on Monday evening.

U.S. President Barack Obama called Netanyahu's shift on Palestinian statehood an important step forward. But aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the speech sabotaged negotiations by restating Israel's refusal to share the city of Jerusalem or accept Palestinian refugees
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Robbery record
'Israeli robbery champion' suspected of carrying out eight muggings in 12 hours
'Dirty like an Arab'
Public security minister Aharonovitch calls an undercover cop a 'dirty Arab'
  1.   Well, there`s your first answer. 16:32  |  Johnboy 15/06/09
  2.   i told you so 16:41  |  eli 15/06/09
  3.   Stop beating around the bush 16:54  |  Hezi 15/06/09
  4.   Who didn`t see this coming 17:02  |  Dave Faulkmore 15/06/09
  5.   The EU does what it does best 17:03  |  Mark B. 15/06/09
  6.   Reeling, in disbelief 17:09  |  Mark Lincoln 15/06/09
  7.   Of course not 17:09  |  steve from Raleigh 15/06/09
  8.   No divided capital 17:12  |  utagawa 15/06/09
  9.   it appears the eu will be satisfied only... 17:19  |  scallywag 15/06/09
  10.   it appears, kouchner didnt listen carefully to netanyahu`s speech 17:23  |  scallywag 15/06/09
  11.   Stop beating around the bush 17:24  |  cesare 15/06/09
  12.   swedish foreign minister said that "it`s only a first step" 17:26  |  scallywag 15/06/09
  13.   Don`t vacation in EU-Land 17:29  |  Gershon 15/06/09
  14.   # 1 hezi 17:29  |  Axel 15/06/09
  15.   The dog barks, the caravan passes 17:29  |  Sufi 15/06/09
  16.   # 4 scallywag 17:44  |  Axel 15/06/09
  17.   # 6 gershon 17:47  |  Axel 15/06/09
  18.   #1 Hezi 18:01  |  Myles 15/06/09
  19.   #6 Dear Gershon from Kochav Yair 18:04  |  Mark B. 15/06/09
  20.   Israel should postpone upgrading ties with Eurabia. 18:04  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/06/09
  21.   2. try: it appears kouchner didnt listen carefully to 18:05  |  scallywag 15/06/09
  22.   Gefreiter Axelchen ,where is your gratitude for allowing Teutons 18:05  |  Absolute Sweden 15/06/09
  23.   EURO`s LOSS 18:10  |  Jay 15/06/09
  24.   #7 hezi - if you aren`t anti-semetic, why would you say ... 18:17  |  Daniel Korn 15/06/09
  25.   EU postpones upgrading ties with Israel 18:20  |  shaun 15/06/09
  26.   Never Enough 18:21  |  leo 15/06/09
  27.   Thanks Gershon---you would not be welcome 18:23  |  andrea 15/06/09
  28.   EU postpones upgrading ties with Israel 18:26  |  nathan 15/06/09
  29.   Hezi 18:27  |  European jew 15/06/09
  30.   Israelis need tough love 18:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/06/09
  31.   Time to deny entry of contraband 18:53  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/06/09
  32.   # 9 18:54  |  Rick 15/06/09
  33.   EU not a friend of Jews or Israel. Solana / Waldner resign 18:55  |  Elly 15/06/09
  34.   # 9 jay 18:55  |  Axel 15/06/09
  35.   Ego and Denial 18:58  |  Kamal 15/06/09
  36.   Accept Palestinian refugees? Then accept Arab Jewish refugees 18:58  |  EgyptJewRefugee 15/06/09
  37.   hatred 18:58  |  Franz Franzton 15/06/09
  38.   Israel is really isolating itself 19:01  |  EURO American 15/06/09
  39.   Palestinians not serious. EU encourages belligerency 19:01  |  Liliane 15/06/09
  40.   Yehallel Otcha zar vilo paicha 21:19  |  ezzat Tamimi 15/06/09
  41.   But why "upgrading ties" after all? 21:22  |  Ari Mann 15/06/09
  42.   Israel needs to changes its ways or ties will be downgraded 21:59  |  Harold 15/06/09
  43.   EU 22:04  |  John 15/06/09
  44.   # 2: Yes please 04:10  |  Wise Syrian 16/06/09
  45.   3. try - chris linthwaite 08:42  |  scallywag 16/06/09
  46.   downgrading ties is in order 20:44  |  John 16/06/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
hotel Jerusalem
David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
20:11 Carter: I believe Gilad Shalit is alive
16:26 Mossad: Iran will have nuclear bomb by 2014
22:14 'Support of Palestinian state will stick, demilitarization demand will fade'
16:06 'Hamas foiled plot to assassinate Carter in Gaza'
22:00 Public security minister calls cop 'dirty Arab'
16:50 In Iran, upheaval in the streets, but nuclear business as usual
21:12 Documents suggest total settlement freeze is possible
04:22 TheMarker's U.S.-Israel business summit, June 24-25, NYC
20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
14:37 20 killed at opposition rallies across Iran
16:27 Netanyahu tells CBS: I have opened the door to peace
21:01 'Israeli robbery champion' suspected of 8 muggings in 12 hours
12:17 Obama urges Iran to probe election tally as violence grows
08:36 U.S. could yield on settlement freeze, says government source
17:23 Former Nazi labor camp consecrated as Jewish cemetery
15:48 Students mark three years of Shalit captivity with rally
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved