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Arab, EU countries call for ‘irreversible’ implementation of two-state solution
The foreign ministers of several Muslim and European countries have urged the international community to take “active steps” to implement the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including through the universal recognition of the State of Palestine.
The call followed a meeting of the top diplomats in the Spanish capital, Madrid.
The ministers said the “credible” and “irreversible” implementation of the two-state solution was “the only way to establish lasting peace and security” for Israelis and Palestinians.
The two-state solution, which was set out in the 1991 Madrid Conference and the 1993-95 Oslo Accords, has long been seen by the international community as the best way to settle the decades-long conflict, but the peace process has been moribund for years.
However, the search for a peaceful solution has been given new urgency by Israel’s 11-month war on the Gaza Strip – the bloodiest episode yet in the overall conflict – as well as the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank.
Delegates at the Spain-hosted conference on Friday included top diplomats from Norway and Slovenia, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza that includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.
Palestine welcomes Arab, European commitment to two-state solution
The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has praised the joint statement issued by Arab and European foreign ministers, which called for the “irreversible” implementation of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
It said the Madrid statement aligned with its position on the conflict and welcomed the ministers’ calls for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza as well as the prevention of further displacement of Palestinians.
“The presidency underscored that the courageous stances expressed by the participants in Madrid highlight the international consensus on the need to stop ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people, from Rafah to Jenin,” it added.
