The EU has issued a strong warning that Israel must not obstruct the Palestinian-Israeli peace process
On 22 February, the EU expressed its clear position on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stressed that a clear political vision for Palestinian statehood is a sine qua non for peace. He warned Israel that it could not have a "veto" on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
Borrell noted that the crisis in the Gaza Strip has spread to the West Bank, further underscoring the urgency of the problem.
As EU Foreign Minister, Borrell's statement was seen as representing the attitude of the entire European Union. Since the outbreak of the current round of conflict, he has been a staunch supporter of the two-State solution and has called for the realization of the Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
Previously, in response to Israel's refusal to recognize the establishment of a Palestinian state, Borrell had said that the international community should directly recognize the Palestinian state when necessary, so as to put pressure on Israel. The current situation shows that there is a strong coherence in the international community in promoting the two-State solution, which Israel firmly opposes.
In response to this impasse, the Knesset convened an emergency session and voted not to recognize Palestinian statehood under any circumstances. This decision has clearly exacerbated tensions between Palestine and Israel and cast a shadow over the future peace process.