About: Palestine Archives

France and Germany consider the US position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict confusing and risking ending the prospect of a two-state solution and fuel conflict in the region, the two leading EU countries said yesterday (16 February).

The European Union Tuesday (24 January) warned that Israel's announcements that it will build thousands of new settler homes in occupied Palestinian territory "further seriously undermine" prospects for a two-state solution.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini lead tributes Wednesday (28 September) to Shimon Peres, one of the biggest figures in Israeli history, who died aged 93.

One of the world biggest development NGOs is locked in a battle with Israel over opening up the trial of one of its employees accused of siphoning off donations to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Changing geopolitics in Europe’s neighbourhood, to the east and in the south, call for a further declustering of a number of policies, going beyond bilateral trade agreements and security measures, Pascal Lamy, former Commissioner and WTO chief told EURACTIV.com.

Twenty-seven Palestinians were left homeless on Tuesday (9 August) after Israel razed five structures in the West Bank, three of had been funded by the European Union.

Brussels and Washington on Wednesday (27 July) slammed as "provocative" Israeli plans to build hundreds of new settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem, saying they seriously undermined the prospect of peace with the Palestinians

Israel has approved hundreds of new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an official said yesterday (4 July), in a move denounced by UN chief Ban Ki-moon and likely to further raise tensions following a series of Palestinian attacks.

Turkey and Israel signed a deal on Tuesday (28 June) to restore ties after a six-year rift, formalising an agreement which UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said sent a “hopeful signal” for regional stability.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah yesterday (4 April) called upon the European Union to recognise the State of Palestine and to boycott Israeli products “produced in illegal Israeli settlements”.

Israel has condemned a video by a group of settlers that depicts the European Union's ambassador wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask and accuses him of trying to establish a "terror state".

The EU Foreign Affairs Council last month reaffirmed its policy of differentiating between products made in Israel, and those produced in settlements. By so doing, it upheld the principle underpinning in its labeling guidelines of November 2015, writes Mousa Jiryis.

A bill that opponents say targets Israeli human rights groups critical of Israel's policies towards the Palestinians won initial approval in parliament yesterday (8 February) with the support of right-wing parties.

Swedish police on Tuesday (19 January) opened a formal corruption probe of the social democratic Foreign Minister Margot Wallström over the rent contract for her apartment in Stockholm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the European Union yesterday (14 January) of holding his country to a double standard, and reserved special criticism for Sweden, saying its call to investigate Israel was outrageous, immoral and stupid.

The Syriza-led Greek parliament will vote on 22 December to recognise the Palestinian state, triggering nervous reactions among centre-right opposition parties. EURACTIV Greece reports.

Israel said on Sunday (29 November) it was suspending contacts with European Union bodies involved in peace efforts with the Palestinians after the bloc started requiring the labelling of exports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Ely Ould Mohamed Vall, former President of Mauritania, told a Brussels audience that the first prerequisites for the development of Africa are the fight against terrorism and corruption.

EU guidelines on the "indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967" are a long overdue step forward, writes MEP Alyn Smith.

The EU decision to adopt new labeling on Israel's settlement products is perceived as an act of discrimination which will not help the diplomatic process, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.

Israel denounced a European Union proposal Tuesday (3 November) to label products from Jewish settlements, saying it would damage the peace process with the Palestinians.

As the Middle East Quartet comes back to life, the EU must allow its member states to play an active role in the informal international group, to promote peace in the region, writes Nimrod Goren.

Research, Science and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas said yesterday (13 October) that one of the best project in the world in terms of science diplomacy was the particle accelerator SESAME in Amman, Jordan, launched in 2003 under the auspices of UNESCO.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini called the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday (11 October) and stressed that any reaction to a latest escalation of violence should be proportionate.