Ashton renews EU promise of support for Palestinians and Israelis

Europe’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton has said that the EU and the Middle East Quartet will provide “unprecedented” support for the Palestinians and Israelis if they succeed in reaching an agreement.

In press statements following the Quartet meeting in Munich on Saturday, Ashton said that its members are committed to their work and are exerting huge efforts in this regard. She also stated that US Secretary of State John Kerry and his team are trying to broker an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Praising the efforts made by PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their commitment to the peace process, Ashton made special mention of negotiators Saeb Erekat and Tzipi Livni for their work pushing the process forward.

She added that the Quartet meeting focused on the peace process and the importance of its success, pointing out that it will continue to provide support for a deal between Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution. She expressed her conviction that the two sides will reach a deal, but what is important is to gain the support of the Quartet as soon as the agreement is reached.

The meeting in Munich was attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Secretary of State Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Quartet’s Middle East Peace Envoy, Tony Blair.

“This meeting takes place at a moment when difficult and bold decisions need to be made,” said Ashton. “The peace dividends for Israelis and Palestinians are enormous.”