EU: The European Union has adopted a clear and unequivocal position that there should be no changes in the pre-1967 borders between Israel and the Palestinian Territories except by agreement between the two sides, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
The British government was the only European state to issue a statement on yesterday's developments, with a welcoming of Israel's pledge to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and some West Bank settlements. It was silent on Israel's intention to remain in some contentious areas of the West Bank. Both Russia and the EU have much to loose if the previously agreed "road map" is to be eroded.
As rumours developed yesterday that the Bush Administration was about to agree to a unilateral redrawing of the border with the West Bank, EU sources pointed to the relevant sentence in the conclusions of last month's European Summit in Brussels.
The European heads of government agreed that, "The European Union will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between the parties."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, had previously met his Israeli counterpart in Dublin on February 27th. Speaking afterwards on behalf of the EU, Mr Cowen said Foreign Minister, Mr Shalom had informed him about Israeli proposals for withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
In response, Mr Cowen outlined the five conditions which the EU had agreed would be necessary for the Gaza withdrawal to gain international support:-
It must be in the context of the "road map" agreed by the international "Quartet" of the UN, US, EU and Russia;
It must be a step towards a two-state solution;
It must not involve a transfer of settlement activity to the West Bank;
There must be an organised and negotiated handover to the Palestinian Authority;
Israel must facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza. - (Additional reporting Reuters)