EU wants to talk with US to modify ‘deal of the century’

The Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister revealed on Wednesday that the EU is planning to talk with the US Administration to modify its “deal of the century”, Safa news agency has reported.

“The desired modifications include new terms related to the two-state solution, establishing a sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and halting settlements,” Riyadh Al-Maliki told Palestine Voice radio station. News reports have revealed recently that the US is to propose its peace plan — the so-called “deal of the century” — soon.

On Tuesday, the EU held a meeting in Brussels attended by six Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. They agreed, according to Al-Maliki, to talk to the US about the modifications before proposing the plan in order to avoid a Palestinian rejection of it.

The plan, which has not yet been officially announced, includes recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the annexation of major settlement blocs in the occupied Palestinian territories and gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territories. US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on 6 December last year. PA President Mahmoud Abbas responded by saying that America is no longer acceptable as a mediator in the peace process.

The deal of the century: Greater Israel