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Last update - 03:56 09/07/2009
EU official: No chance of settlements deal with Israel
By Akiva Eldar
Tags: Israel News, West Bank 

A senior European Union official rules out any compromise with Israel over the issue of settlements, unless reached in the framework of a final-status agreement with the Palestinians.

Robert Rydberg, head of the Middle East desk in the Swedish Foreign Ministry, stressed on Monday it was inconceivable for the international community to legitimize natural growth of the settler population, since all settlements beyond the Green Line were illegal.

Rydberg, whose country holds the EU presidency, said the only conceivable compromise would come with Israeli and Palestinian agreement on borders in an all-encompassing final-status agreement between the two parties.
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Speaking at a conference in Munich, Rydberg slammed the settlements as creating a new reality on the ground in the occupied territories and spawning obstacles, and he said that roadblocks were intended mainly to protect the settlements rather than Israel proper within the Green Line.

Rydberg said Israel's settlement policy did not build credibility among the Palestinian leadership and that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wanted to reach an agreement with Israel. He said the ideology that guides most settlers is based on utter denial of the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Rydberg, who also serves as deputy director general of the Swedish Foreign Ministry and is a former ambassador to Israel, noted that the United States was interested in the EU's playing an active role in the peace process, and that the U.S. meticulously coordinates its positions with the EU and other members of the Quartet.

He noted with satisfaction the latest statements by Hamas on Israel. He said that although Hamas was approaching the Quartet's demands, it still must live up to all of the Quartet's conditions before the latter would engage with the Islamic group.

He also said the EU was trying to "close gaps" with Arab countries like Syria and Libya, in a bid to engage them in the efforts to make progress in resolving the Middle East conflict.

Rydberg said the situation in Iran was likely to influence the Israeli-Arab conflict, but also that progress in the peace process was as likely to influence players affiliated with Iran in the region, such as Syria, as well as the positions of organization like Hamas and Hezbollah.

He said the Middle East will be given much attention during the Swedish presidency of the EU, as his government, like others in Europe, has political, security and economic interests in the region.



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      1.   I salute your stand EU 04:09  |  Ram 09/07/09
      2.   EU has no business interfering in Israel 04:40  |  Nechama 09/07/09
      3.   Only anti-semites dont want Jews in Judea and Samaria 04:42  |  David 09/07/09
      4.   settlements 04:51  |  Cesare 09/07/09
      5.   LOL 05:02  |  Jennifer 09/07/09
      6.   I`m Very Suspicious of EU Preoccupation With Settlements 05:04  |  Laguna Geno 09/07/09
      7.   Sweden is too far removed from the Middle East to Interfere 05:13  |  John Q. Public 09/07/09
      8.   UN troops may be needed to control the settlers 05:17  |  Johan Odin 09/07/09
      9.   Wow...a european that has a set. 05:28  |  ID 09/07/09
      10.   EU 05:28  |  Chet 09/07/09
      11.   Natanyahu will have a hard time 05:29  |  Lemouel 09/07/09
      12.   Like Duh Dude! 05:35  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
      13.   All speaking with one voice 05:35  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      14.   I salute your stand Obama 05:55  |  Harold 09/07/09
      15.   I also salute to the implementation of 06:02  |  Viva 09/07/09
      16.   Meh who cares 06:09  |  World Observer 09/07/09
      17.   It is encouraging to see America and the EU take a united stand 06:09  |  Natallie Durson 09/07/09
      18.   kudos to the EU! this is exactly the stance that`s needed 06:23  |  eric 09/07/09
      19.   Sweden 06:33  |  Louis Fried 09/07/09
      20.   Good for you, Rydberg! 06:40  |  Hannah 09/07/09
      21.   Swede is correct! 06:40  |  Ed 09/07/09
      22.   JohnBoy 06:52  |  Brad 09/07/09
      23.   Rydberg and the soft Swedish arrogance. 07:04  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/07/09
      24.   target practice 07:31  |  Peleg 09/07/09
      25.   Nobody Asked The EU 07:32  |  Yishai Kohen 09/07/09
      26.   No chance of settlements deal with Israel 08:08  |  Chet 09/07/09
      27.   sweden acts as dishonest broker in mid east 08:18  |  v hardman 09/07/09
      28.   You may deceive Johnboy and Ram... 08:34  |  Ben-Africa 09/07/09
      29.   The EU 08:48  |  Tom 09/07/09
      30.   Rydberg and his record 08:54  |  Kobi former swede 09/07/09
      31.   #15 That`s two straw men in the one post, Brad 09:12  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      32.   rydberg openly speaks the truth... 09:12  |  scallywag 09/07/09
      33.   Zero tolerance for Jewish criminals 09:13  |  Malka L 09/07/09
      34.   #18 Posing that question to you again, Yishai 09:16  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      35.   Location of EU Speech 09:20  |  Garry 09/07/09
      36.   Bibi`s charade feigning opposition to impress his partners 09:22  |  S 09/07/09
      37.   Hey, let`s get it on.... 09:39  |  jake 09/07/09
      38.   # 15 Brad 09:47  |  maoriboy 09/07/09
      39.   Ah, Sweden! 09:50  |  Heather Czerniak 09/07/09
      40.   #32 nice try heather, but sweden is ONE country in the EU 10:03  |  eric 09/07/09
      41.   Johnboy: My Answer Is The Same As It Always Is 10:43  |  Yishai Kohen 09/07/09
      42.   #40erioc lets the sun blind his judgement 10:46  |  vhardman 09/07/09
      43.   Swedish politicians do what Muslims want 10:53  |  h 09/07/09
      44.   Well done the EU 10:57  |  Nick Ferriman 09/07/09
      45.   Mark Lincoln 10:58  |  h 09/07/09
      46.   Chet 11:06  |  h 09/07/09
      47.   jake 11:13  |  h 09/07/09
      48.   # 7 john 11:17  |  Axel 09/07/09
      49.   #41 Thank you, Yishai. 11:26  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      50.   The swedes and Israel 11:26  |  ari 09/07/09
      51.   so asking israel to do the right and lawful thing is antisemite? 11:32  |  Caroline 09/07/09
      52.   What on earth is the s.c. `natural growth ? 11:46  |  Raffa 09/07/09
      53.   #49 Johnboy 11:46  |  Yishai Kohen 09/07/09
      54.   # 3- The jews can stay in West Bank as Pals 11:52  |  Right man 09/07/09
      55.   # 50 ari 12:08  |  Axel 09/07/09
      56.   To Yishai Kohen 12:12  |  Maoz 09/07/09
      57.   For next six months Europe will be one big Hanna Lindt Foundation 12:18  |  Nemesis 09/07/09
      58.   Hooray for Sweden 12:21  |  Stuart Sweeney 09/07/09
      59.   Good news 12:25  |  Sylvie 09/07/09
      60.   EUROPE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN... 12:33  |  patrick a. hammel 09/07/09
      61.   We have a record of employing Israel-bashers at FO 12:38  |  Absolute Sweden 09/07/09
      62.   Peace obstacles 12:41  |  Anthony Lehal 09/07/09
      63.   I hope the EU follow up their words with actions 12:49  |  Miggy 09/07/09
      64.   The EU onboard the Obama peace train 12:50  |  Peace Lover 09/07/09
      65.   The Meditaranean 12:53  |  Ahmed 09/07/09
      66.   Encouraging to see Jimmy Carter endorse settlements 12:57  |  Joe Sittizen 09/07/09
      67.   v hardman 27 13:13  |  potobac 09/07/09
      68.   What else could he say? 13:17  |  Murray 09/07/09
      69.   v hardman 42 13:23  |  potobac 09/07/09
      70.   Well done Sweden --demonstrating the will of all 13:47  |  Labhras 09/07/09
      71.   EU official and the settlements 14:18  |  Chance 09/07/09
      72.   EU Official and Settlements 15:54  |  Sam 09/07/09
      73.   #44 15:59  |  Harold 09/07/09
      74.   yishai cohen 17:02  |  Axel 09/07/09
      75.   Partially right, Mr. Sittizen of Jerusalem 18:00  |  Murray 09/07/09
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