EU: meeting with Israel in February, with Palestinian Authority in March

The European Union will successively organize a diplomatic meeting with Israel in Brussels in February, followed by one with the Palestinian Authority in March, the Commission announced Thursday. These two meetings will take place on the sidelines of foreign ministers' councils, scheduled for Feb. 24 and March 17 in the Belgian capital. A cease-fire agreement took effect on Jan. 19 in Gaza, a devastated Palestinian territory after more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas. With Israel, the European Union intends to discuss "the war in Gaza, regional issues, and bilateral relations," said the European Commission spokesperson Anouar al-Anouni.

Organized within the framework of the association agreement between Israel and the European Union, in effect since June 2000, the meeting will be co-chaired by the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Relations with Israel have deeply divided the 27 since the Gaza war. Some member states emphasize Israel's right to defend itself, while others insist on ending the fighting and the Palestinians' right to a state.

The European Union will then organize in March a "first high-level dialogue" with the Palestinian Authority, co-chaired by Kaja Kallas and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. "This will be an opportunity to discuss the EU's support for the Palestinians and all regional and bilateral issues," specified Anouni. The European Union had welcomed the cease-fire in Gaza. "The EU is fully committed to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security," stated the Commission.