PM Fayyad Welcomed the EU statement, and said that Israel not the only player in the region

Ramallah – PMO – December 8- Prime Minister Salam Fayyad welcomed the statement from the Foreign Ministers of the European Union, and described it as a victory for international legitimacy and law.

Mr. Fayyad said that the EU conclusions are an important stage on the road to the international community taking a direct responsibility to end the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian land since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and enabling the Palestinian to achieve self self-determination and establish their independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem.

The Prime Minister praised the European position, which confirmed the rejection of the Israeli decision on annexation of East Jerusalem, and which calls for an end to settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in East Jerusalem, and opening all the Palestinian institutions there, as well as rejection of the Israeli actions in Jerusalem city, which include houses demolition, and the expulsion of Palestinians from Jerusalem, and the separation wall, which are considered acts contrary to the International law, and against to the objectives of the peace process and the possibility of reaching a solution on the basis of the two countries. The Prime Minister also praised the European invitation to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and open crossings, according to the transit and movement agreement 2005.

Mr. Fayyad stressed also the importance of the confirmation in the EU statement on the terms of reference of the peace process, and the UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative. And he pointed out that the EU position opens the way to the European Union to play an active political role in the political process, with other international partners in the Quartet framework, especially the United States, and to enable this process to achieve its goals in ending the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

“The Israeli leadership should now accept that is time for them to respect international law and the resolutions of international legitimacy, which ensure the Palestinian’s right to self-determination, and it is time to stop seeking to impose a policy of fait accompli,” the PM said. “Israel is not above the law, and not the only player in the region”.