No changes not agreed on should be accepted

The European Parliament (EP) voted on Thursday in favor of a resolution stressing that no changes on the ground in the Palestinian territories not agreed on by the conflicting parties should be accepted. By a vote of 291 in favor and 274 against with 39 abstentions, the EP called on Palestinians and Israeli to avoid all steps that may undermine prospects of a negotiated agreement, urging both parties to resume direct negotiations. “Direct negotiations leading to a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians should be resumed without delay and according to the deadlines called for by the Quartet, in order to overcome the unacceptable status quo,” said a statement issued following the meeting. The EP stressed that “all steps that may undermine the prospects of a negotiated agreement should be avoided and that no changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties should be accepted.” It reiterated the European Union position that “all settlements remain illegal under international law,” calling “on the Israeli Government to stop all construction and extension of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” The resolution said the EP “reiterates its strong support for the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as capital of both states, with the State of Israel with secure and recognized borders and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security.” It also stressed that “peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”