BRUSSELS (EJP)—”The European Union opposes a boycott of Israel,’’ EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday while reiterating long-standing EU position that ”settlement policy is illegal” under international law.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the 28 EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels mainly dedicated to the situaton in Ukraine, Ashton said ministers had a ‘’brief’’ discussion on the Middle East peace process.
‘’The EU fully supports US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts as well as the Israeli and Palestinian engagement,’’ she said.
She reiterated that the EU is ready to offer Israel and the Palestinian with an ‘’unprecedented’’ package of support measures if the parties come to an agreemnt in current talks. ”This will provide huge opportunities in trade, research, innovation that will benefit both Israel and the Palestinians,” she said.
‘’Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas need to make important decisions,’’ Ashton said.