What we know about EU's peace conference proposal for Palestinian statehood

Rina Bassist

Jan 22, 2024

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) and and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell walk past the US and EU flags as they arrive for an EU-US Energy Council Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on April 4, 2023. (Photo by John THYS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) and and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell walk past the US and EU flags as they arrive for an EU-US Energy Council Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on April 4, 2023. — JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers convening in Brussels pushed for a two-state solution to solve the current quagmire in the Middle East and raised concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of Palestinian statehood.

Crucially, European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the bloc is preparing for an international peace conference, noting that such an agreement would "have to supply security assurances for both Israel and for the future state of Palestine.’’

Borrell said at the conference that a draft discussion paper sent to all 27 member states on a potential summit noted that a "preparatory peace conference" would be organized by the EU, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the League of Arab States. The United States and United Nations would also be invited to attend the gathering. Borrell did not say whether representatives of the Israeli and Palestinian governments would be invited to participate.

Asked by Al-Monitor if the EU plans to hold such a conference with or without Israel's involvement and whether the initiative was discussed at his bilateral meeting Monday afternoon with Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, Borrell simply said that all European countries agree that the only viable solution is the two-state solution. Borrell also stated that while not all European countries agree to or call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, they are all united in calls to dramatically expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza.