By IRNA,
Berlin : The European Union has made clear to the Israeli government that it would not support boosting bilateral ties, if Tel Aviv is no longer committed to the Middle East peace process, the German edition of Financial Times (FTD) newspaper reported Friday.
If the government of Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to move towards a two-state solution, Europe would be forced to call off talks about deepening relations with Israel, several EU foreign ministers told FTD.
The whole debate reflects the deep concern that the Netanyahu government and his ultra-right wing coalition might ultimately bring the fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace process to a standstill.
“It is quite clear. We don’t need to talk about an upgrade of ties, if it gets to that point,” Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn was quoted saying.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb echoed Asselborn’s remarks by saying there was a “clear link between deepening relations and the peace process.”
In December, the EU’s foreign ministers gave green light to a significant upgrade in the union’s relationship with Israel, despite Palestinian opposition and calls in Europe that this should be tied to developments on the ground.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amadao warned that the decision to deepen relations had to be reconsidered, if Israel does not halt the construction of new settlements in the Palestinian-run territories and if it is no longer committed to the peace process.
Earlier this month, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana had already called on Israel to adhere to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He warned Netanyahu against forming a government that did no longer believe in a two-state settlement of the Middle East conflict.
“We are ready to do business as usual normally with a government of Israel that is prepared to continue talking and will keep working for a two-state solution,” Solana said.
“If this is not the case, the solution would be different,” he added.
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party signed a coalition agreement with ultra-nationalist Israel Beiteinu party of Avigdor Lieberman, who is tipped to become Israel’s next foreign minister in such a coalition government.
Lieberman has faced international criticism for his racist views against Arabs during the recent Israeli election campaign.
Netanyahu and Liebermann have both supported the overthrow of the democratically-elected Hamas government in Gaza which became the scene of Israeli massacres during the recent 22-day Israeli war.