EU outlines ten-point peace plan to end Israel-Palestine conflict

The European Union (EU) is preparing a peace plan made up of ten points to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and which contemplates the creation of two States and the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab world, as published this Saturday by the information portal Euractiv, partner of EFE, who had access to the draft.

Community sources confirmed to EFE the existence of the text, which is prepared by the European External Action Service (EEAS) -the diplomatic corps of the EU– and that aims to propose a “credible and comprehensive solution” to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Among the proposed measures is the creation of a Palestinian state independent “living side by side with Israel” and the “full normalization” of relations between the Jewish State and the countries of the Arab world.

Community sources indicated EFE that the high representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, the Spanish Josep Borrell, has been involved in the preparation of this document.

The plan of the European Union excludes the Palestinian as interlocutor Islamist movement Hamaswho currently governs Loop and which is considered a terrorist group by the EU and USA.

The territories of Gaza and the West Bank would be represented in any eventual peace negotiations by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)according to the draft.

”The Palestinians will need a revitalized political alternative to Hamas”says the EU plan cited by Euractiv, which makes the end of the conflict subject to the establishment of peace negotiations that, in the first instance, would be piloted by the international community.

In the document, the EU believes that “it is not realistic to assume” that in the near future the Israelis and the Palestinians – represented by the ANP and the PLO – will want to participate “in bilateral peace negotiations“als to achieve a comprehensive peace, much less conclude these negotiations.”

To prevent Palestinians and Israelis from having to sit at the same table in the first place, the EU road map EU proposes “strong international participation” in the entire process, which would begin with the holding of a “preparatory” peace conference that lays the foundations for the subsequent negotiation between Palestinians and Israelis, without the two of them being obliged to sit together, in that moment.

The conference would be attended by EU, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and the United Nations; all of them in constant contact with Israeli and Palestinian officials “at every step and at any time”, with the aim of designing, within a year, the first outline of a peace plan.

This would take into account the comments of all parties involved, as well as the resolutions of the UN and the conclusions of the European Council, and would be transferred as a kind of starting point to the “parties in conflict” – Palestinians and Israelis – so that, now, it would be the two of them who would negotiate the final text.

In the opinion of the EUthis process should also include “a peace support package” as an incentive for the negotiations to reach a successful conclusion.

This draft comes to light shortly before, on Monday, the foreign ministers of the EU countries meet in Brussels to address, in a Council, the crisis unleashed in the Middle East after the war in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the European Commission for Foreign Affairs explained to EFE that, during the meeting, the ministers will discuss formulas that can revive the peace process between Israel and Palestine.