ISRAEL: Israel summoned three key European Union ambassadors yesterday to protest against the EU's support of the UN resolution calling for Israel's security barrier to be removed.
Mr Yoav Biran, the Foreign Ministry's director-general, told top diplomats from the EU, Britain and the Netherlands that the European bloc's support of Tuesday's General Assembly resolution "raises doubts as to the ability of the European Union to constructively contribute towards advancing the peace process".
"Israel is particularly disappointed with the European position, the readiness of the European Union to toe the same line as the Palestinians ... even at the price of compromising on the basic principles of justice and morality," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The EU, which is part of a quartet of peace mediators, backed the UN resolution after its diplomats convinced the Palestinians and their supporters in the General Assembly to dilute the wording and include a condemnation of terrorism.
Along with the United States, United Nations, and Russia, the EU has championed a "road map" to Middle East peace.
The plan has been stalled by persistent bloodshed and failure by both Israel and the Palestinians to implement its measures.