[27/July/2010]

AMMAN, July 27 (Saba) -- Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos deemed here Tuesday the communique made by the European Union (EU) and issued in Brussels yesterday a European terms of reference for the political negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Moratinos said -- in a joint press conference with the Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat -- following his meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas here today that all concerned parties including Palestinians, Israelis and the international community should encourage such frames of reference that would lead to positive results in the negotiations.

Moratinous asserted that his country supports the Palestinians and would attempt sooner or later to find a way to push for holding direct negotiations between them and the Israelis.

Meanwhile, Erekat said that the communique made by the EU yesterday constitutes a terms of reference for relaunching the direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, expressing the appreciation of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) for such communique.

He added in the press conference that was held at the residence of the Palestinian ambassador in Jordan that, "the point is not about our going or not going to direct negotiations, but it is about the content of these negotiations as we seek a terms of reference that would lead to two-state solution based on pre-1967."

Erekat added that this, "includes the possibility of swapping lands and a full halt of settlement activity including these in East Jerusalem." Further, Erekat asserted that these are international commitments thrust upon Israel, adding that Palestinians do not set conditions for anyone, "as we are a people under occupation in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip." He also asserted that the key to direct negotiations is at the hands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that, "he should choose between settlement and peace."

Answering a question on the required guaranteees for the Palestinians's entering into direct negotiations with Israel, Erekat said that politics is not based on guarantees, but it is a system of interests and the Palestinian option is peace.

He digressed, "and our option is to make the world realize that the key to direct negotiations is at the hands of Netanyahu whose measures including settlement, killing, detention and houses' demolition shut the door before such negotiations." It is scheduled for Moratinos to leave the Jordanian capital Amman today for the West Bank where he would visit Jenin city, then he would meet his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The EU communique and issued in Brussels yesterday provides for the EU support of a final settlement based on the two-state solution on the pre-1967 lands with the possibility of land swap and deeming Jerusalem as a capital of the two states along with safeguarding the security the Israel.

Saba