conference in Brussels debates new paradigms to resolve Palestine question

A two-day conference kicked off in the European Parliament Wednesday evening to discuss new ideas and new paradigms to push forward the Middle East Peace Process, 20 years after the Oslo process failed to end the Israeli occupation. Opening the meeting, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz noted that it comes at an appropriate time as Palestinians and Israelis continue their talks in Palestine. He stressed that there is no alternative to a political solution to the Palestine question but noted that the EU is not playing the role it should in finding the two-state solution, an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The conference is organised by Group of the progressive alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. Andreas Reinicke, EU special representative for the Middle East Peace Process, said the ongoing talks "are still on track" and pointed out that the settlement of the conflict is in Europe's own interests. Leila Shahid, ambassador of Palestine to the EU, said the Palestinian side is totally committed, despite their anger and frustration over expansions of Jewish settlements, to find a solution and end the Israeli occupation. "What will happen if we don't reach an agreement?" she asked, expressing fear of an explosion of Palestinian anger. David Walzer, Israeli ambassador to the EU, said 16 to 17 rounds of discussions have been held till now but noted "that it will be very difficult to reach an agreement in nine months" as envisaged. "The end outcome must e a two-state solution," said Walzer and suggested that Jewish settlements should not be raised as the main issue. To this Leila Shahid retorted that if Jewish settlement expansion continue there will not be any land left for a Palestinian state. Abdallah Abdallh, chair of the political committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said 19 rounds of negotiations were completed last night "and the end goal must be to end the Israeli occupation." He said the Israelis are putting more obstacles by calling for building a new wall in the Jordan valley and by desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque by Jewish settlers. "We don't see genuine interest in finding a solution," he stressed. "Oslo is a failed paradigm" said Sam Bahour, a Palestinian-American business executive in Ramallah.