Palestinians claim Europe holding consultations on recognizing ‘Palestine’

Will the EU unilaterally recognize Palestine? 

By: World Israel News Staff

A number of European Union (EU) countries are reportedly deliberating recognition of a Palestinian state, either collectively or individually, the Palestinians claim.

Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio on Tuesday, Palestinian ambassador to the EU Abdel-Rahim al-Farra said that “the trend to recognize a Palestinian state has increased within the European Union, as Israel continues to violate international law and United Nations resolutions.”

EU and Arab League foreign ministers met on Monday in Brussels to follow up on their discussions regarding Jerusalem’s status, while stressing the “need to save the two-state solution.”

“All the Arab ministers and the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke with one voice: the need for a new position on the part of the European Union with regard to the peace process and the Palestinian issue,” al-Farra said.

Farra said the Arab ministers stressed the need to adopt the vision for “peace” favored by Palestinian Authority (PA) head Mahmoud Abbas, which he presented in his address to the Security Council last Tuesday.

The Arab ministers and Abbas insist that Jerusalem must be the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state, as the US prepares to move its embassy there.

Speaking after the talks Monday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the “special status and character of the city must be preserved.”

She said the EU and Arab League also “see eye to eye” that there can only be a two-state solution to the conflict, with Israel and the Palestinians living side by side in peace.

AP contributed to this report.

Arab LeagueDiplomatic processEuropean UnionFederica MogheriniJerusalem