JERUSALEM (WJC)–The European Union’s new foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has made her first official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
“It is true that never has the situation been more dangerous in this area, but this could also bring some opportunities in terms of regional framework,” she said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mogherini, who took over from Catherine Ashton as the EU high representative for foreign affairs on 1 November, made no mention of Israeli building in east Jerusalem, which the European Union considers illegal and has condemned many times. Instead, she said that the “European Union would always encourage direct talks, not unilateral steps on both sides, to find the solution of the two states” in which Israel has secure borders and the Palestinians have their own country.
Netanyahu said Jerusalem was not a settlement and that the root of the conflict with the Palestinians was their “failure to recognize Israel in any boundary.” He also criticized European politicians who recognized the Palestinian Authority’s claim to statehood outside the now-defunct negotiations with Israel, calling them “irresponsible.”
The Israeli PM called for “rolling back” the Islamic State terror organization from Syria in Iraq and reiterated Israel’s opposition to any deal with Iran that allows the Islamic Republic the ability to enrich uranium, which Israel fears could be bring Iran closer to possessing nuclear arms.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress