JERUSALEM
\nIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s stubborn opposition to a Palestinian state does not deter the European Union\u2019s Middle East peace envoy from believing a two-state solution remains achievable.
\nSven Koopmans, in an interview with AFP, said with the Gaza war ongoing and Israel needing international support, Netanyahu\u2019s government cannot indefinitely disregard European views on resolving the conflict.
\nNetanyahu and some ministers in his right-wing government staunchly oppose the creation of a Palestinian state.
\n\u201cI think that recently he was very explicit about rejecting the two-state solution,\u201d Koopmans said.
\n\u201cNow, that means that he has a different point of view from much of the rest of the world.\u201d
\nThe Dutch diplomat said one side\u2019s rejection of \u201cthe outcome that we believe is necessary\u201d does not mean efforts to seek a solution should cease.
\nLast month the European Union invited Israel to discuss Gaza and human rights.
\nIsrael agreed to a meeting after July 1, when Hungary, which supports Netanyahu\u2019s government, assumed the EU presidency.
\n\u201cIt is important that we have that discussion,\u201d said Koopmans.
\n\u201cI am sure that in such a meeting, there will be very substantive discussions about what we expect from our partner Israel.
\n\u201cAnd that relates to things that we do not see at present.\u201d
\nKoopmans said it was \u201ccompletely unacceptable\u201d for there to be thousands of aid trucks waiting at the Gaza border.
\nThe envoy also raised concerns about Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, saying some attacks amounted to \u201cgenuine terrorism.\u201d
\nNamed as special representative for the peace process in 2021, Koopmans said the European Union was one of the most energetic institutions pushing for a two-state solution.
\nKoopmans said his work was guided by the EU\u2019s 1980 declaration recognizing the \u201cright to existence and to security\u201d for Israel and \u201cthe legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.\u201d
\nThe declaration called Israeli settlements on Palestinian land \u201ca serious obstacle to the peace process.\u201d
\nThe European bloc was only nine members then and Koopmans acknowledged divisions within the 27 existing members on the Middle East strife.
\nBut he insisted the bloc \u201cshould not make ourselves smaller than we are.\u201d
\nHe highlighted that the 27 countries, with a combined population of 450 million, were Israel\u2019s largest trading partner and the top aid donor to the Palestinians.
\n\u201cWe are the biggest political neighbor to both of+ them. Of course, we are not the biggest security provider, let\u2019s be honest. But we are a big and relevant actor.\u201d
\nKoopmans listed his top priorities as ending the suffering in Gaza, preventing a regional war between Israel and Hezbollah, and reviving the peace process to establish \u201ca free state of Palestine living alongside a safe and secure Israel.\u201d
\nThe envoy acknowledged the \u201cdifferent nuances\u201d of EU members on the Middle East.
\nSpain and Ireland joined non-EU member Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state this year.
\nHungary and the Czech Republic have on the other hand sought to block EU sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
\nThe Palestinian state recognitions infuriated Israel, while Koopmans said the move could \u201ccontribute\u201d to a solution to the conflict.
\nThe European Union is also a major backer of the Palestinian Authority that many countries say Israel seeks to undermine.
\n\u201cWe want to see the PA thrive. We want it to have an ability to govern in an effective and legitimate manner,\u201d said Koopmans.
\n\u201cWe want to strengthen the PA also so that it can again take over in Gaza when the time is there.\u201d
\nThe European Union met with foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in May and Koopmans said there were \u201cpositive reactions\u201d to its proposals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JERUSALEM Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s stubborn opposition to a Palestinian state does not deter the European Union\u2019s Middle East peace envoy from believing a two-state solution remains achievable. Sven Koopmans, in an interview with AFP, said with the Gaza war ongoing and Israel needing international support, Netanyahu\u2019s government cannot indefinitely disregard European views on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":419627,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-419602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n