Diplomats: EU split on support of Palestinians' UN statehood bid
Diplomats expect Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden to back a Palestinian proposal in the General Assembly planned for late September.
By The Associated Press and Reuters Tags: Middle East peace Palestinian stateThe European Union remains undecided whether to recognize the Palestinian push for recognition at the United Nations, diplomats said Thursday.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday the question remained "hypothetical" because no resolution had been tabled yet.
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The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations Headquarters May 3, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Ashton said the EU's 27 members were united "over the most critical issue, which is to try to get the talks moving," and reiterated the bloc's position that Israeli settlement-building in the occupied territories is illegal under international law.
"We need to find a way to create a two-state solution, a secure, stable Israel living side by side with a secure, stable Palestinian state," she said after meeting Filippo Grandi, head of the U.N. agency aiding 4.7 million Palestinian refugees.
The changes brought about by the Arab Spring make the need to reach agreement more important than ever, she said.
The Palestinian statehood bid comes amid stalled peace negotiations with Israel. Israel and the United States oppose the bid, saying a state must be established through negotiations. Israel has been lobbying EU capitals not to endorse the move.
Diplomats expect a split among EU members akin to that over Kosovo's independence, which five members of the 27-nation bloc refused to recognize. They say Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden may back the resolution.
News of the possible EU split came a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he wanted to see a united European Union voice on the issue of Palestinian statehood at next month's United Nations General Assembly and urged the United States to do more for peace.
"The 27 countries of the European Union must express themselves with one voice," Sarkozy said in an opening speech to an annual conference of French ambassadors.
"The role of the U.S. is uncontested and irreplaceable, but everybody sees that it is not enough. We have to widen the circle of negotiation, think of the role and pertinence of the quartet."
Sarkozy said the world could not continue to leave the Israel-Palestinian peace process frozen while the Arab Spring forces change elsewhere in the region.
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It is generally very difficult to attain unanimity on controversial issues, and this is one of the most debilitating problems of the EU. The Maastricht treaty requires unanimous consent of the 27 EU members in order for the EU to have a position on some foreign affair. In the matter of Israel, Germany will never agree to punish Israel for wrong doing, because of the guilt it carries. The EU could have head a greater influence on Middle East diplomacy than the US, except that it requires unanimity of 27 nations. This is what Sthe EU should try to change. They could follow the model of the UN Security Council: The SC has 15 member states, the smaller ones on a rotating basis, but 60% of the vote obligates all members. (The EU does not need to give the more important states a veto power, just permanent membership.)
The EU has 27 members (not 28) and Norway is not one of them.
At present, Israqel supplies water, electricity, gas, oil, food and MONEY - yes, money - to the Palestinians, whether Gaza or the West Bank. Soooo... the moment the UN recognizes Palestrine, Isrqel must also recognize Palestine and immediaqtely cut off all of the above and blockade all ports of entry to Palestine, because Palestine, a sovereign state, is carrying out hostilities against Israel, does not recognize Israel as a sovereign nation-state of the Jewish People and wishes to force Israel to accept foreign populaqtions against its will,
WHO CARES about, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden ? As long as France, UK, Germany, Italy, Holland, do not vote in favour, those European provinces opinion, mean NOTHING
Either they will vote for it or will abstain.
But Israel means nothing to us
Abbas knows leftist governments are getting thrown out that is why he is pushing this now before more of them are gone.
Typical mealemouthed comment by the undecided EU..Perhaps they know ultimately they will have TO FOOT THE bill if they go for it. The PA wants a state BUT without the DOSH they cannot survive..Gettingfed up with the whole scenario.. Indecisions and prevarications .You either go for it OR YOU DON'T
What rationale is there to support such an entity.
"The UN has over 190 member states, so who cares about a couple of European votes more or less" -- The Israeli government does care ...
they'll vote yes, and then run for the hills when it's time to put their money where their mouths are.
END
Is Sweden also an economic basket case?
If in 1948 only those willing to give financial support had voted for the creation of Israel, there would have been no UN vote for it ...
Why not have Lieberman threaten Cyprus by saying he will withdraw all his illicit millions he has hidden in their banks? That kind of cash shortfall might turn Cyprus' vote. That would be the ONLY utility our nation would EVER derive from this crook.
Good for you Eamon Gilmore.
Scotland minister Alex salmond.. a definate yes!!
Who really cares what your bankrupt, terror-supporting nation thinks.
Well done Ireland and all the others who are voting for Palestine!
Well, you have no idea :-) A majority of EU states will accept the resolution.
The difference is that Israel was willing to share the land living in 2 states - the Palestininas REFUSED. And they still don't recognise Israel... What would you do? And please, don't give me the boring rhetoric - What would you do, physically?
a tough nut huh?
The difference is that Israel was willing to share the land living in 2 states - the Palestininas REFUSED. And they still don't recognise Israel today...
The keyword is that once Israel WAS willing to share the land ... We don't see that they stil are.
You're then advocating for Palestinians' RIGHT TO A STATE/COUNTRY/NATION