EU Foreign Policy Chief Lines Up First Visit to Israel, Gaza, West Bank

[bemildred]

Incoming European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said repeatedly she wants the EU to be a “player” as well as a “payer” in the Middle East peace process and it seems she is putting her money where her mouth is.

A person briefed on her plans confirmed reports that Ms. Mogherini, who will start her EU role at midnight Friday, will make her first visit outside the bloc to Israel, Ramallah and Gaza on Nov. 7 and 8.

She will likely meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. At this point, Ms. Mogherini’s meetings with Israeli officials have not been firmed up, the person said.

http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2014/10/31/eu-foreign-policy-chief-lines-up-first-visit-to-israel-gaza-west-bank/

[Jefferson23]

1. New EU foreign policy chief wants to see Palestinian state in five years

Federica Mogherini, who took over from Catherine Ashton, says Israeli-Palestinian peace will be main goal of her term.

By Haaretz | Nov. 5, 2014 |

The European Union's new foreign policy chief said on Monday that she wants to see the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of her five-year term in office.

Federica Mogherini told reporters that one of her main goals will be to work toward peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and that she intends the EU to be more intimately involved in the Middle East than in the past.

Mogherini, Italy's former foreign minister who took over from Catherine Ashton on Saturday, said that simple recognition of the Palestinian state by European countries, like Sweden, which became the first to do so last week, is not enough.

“What’s important for me is not whether other countries, be they European or not, recognize Palestine… I’d be happy if, during my mandate, the Palestinian state existed," she told French newspaper Le Monde, Newsweek reported.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.624703

[oberliner]

2. Glad there is so much movement towards a 2-state solution

Hopefully they can look to the Geneva Initiative for inspiration.

[Jefferson23]

3. Which land gets swapped? n/t

[oberliner]

4. Check out the Geneva Initiative

Here are some maps that indicate possible land swaps

http://www.geneva-accord.org/mainmenu/static-maps/

[Jefferson23]

5. Israel keeping the major settlement blocks. n/t

[oberliner]

6. Jimmy Carter calls on Israel and the PA to adopt the Geneva Accord as a "bible"

Excerpts from several reports on the former U.S. president's statements, By Various news sources
During his visit to Israel, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter met with the heads of Israeli and Palestinian peace organizations and repeatedly referenced the Geneva Accord as a document that should guide these organizations and the decision-makers on both sides in their pursuit of peace. his statements received extensive coverage in the media in Israel, as well as in Palestinian and International media outlets. Following are excerpts from several reports:
The Associated Press, 16/04/08:
Carter said Israelis and Palestinians should adopt an unofficial framework for a peace agreement known as the "Geneva Accord," drafted by dovish Israelis and Palestinians in 2003 without government authorization. That agreement endorsed the formation of a Palestinian state on almost all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
The sides should "adopt the Geneva Accords as Bible, Holy Scripture, so that all can speak with a common voice," Carter said.
NRG, 16/04/08:
At the end of the meeting (with the peace organizations), he called on the organizations to adopt the Geneva Initiative as a bible and told them they are on the winning side, as peace will eventually prevail.
Al Quds, 17/04/08:
Carter described the Geneva Initiative as the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Army Radio, 16/04/08:
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter calls on Israel to open a dialogue with Hamas, stop targeting the heads of terror organizations, and adopt the Geneva Initiative.

http://www.geneva-accord.org/mainmenu/jimmy-carter-calls-on-israel-and-the-pa-to-adopt-the-geneva-accord-as-a-bible

[Jefferson23]

7. That's your answer?

Carter approves of a framework many years ago..Israel rejected it and for their
own reasons, so did Palestinians...more than half.

I wonder why.