Israel rejects out of hand Solana call for imposed peace solution

Jul 13, 2009, 11:15 GMT

Jerusalem - Israel on Monday squarely rejected a call by the European Union's top diplomat, that the United Nations should go ahead and recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, if the parties themselves were unable to make peace by a fixed deadline.

'This novel idea would be contrary to all prior Security Council resolutions, the road map and past agreements between Israelis and Palestinians,' Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.

'All these state clearly that the only way to achieve peace is through direct dialogue between the two parties.'

Peace could not be 'imposed from the outside,' he argued, noting that 'the idea of a Palestinian state within temporary borders was already raised during the time of (former Israeli premiers Ariel) Sharon and (Ehud) Olmert, and the Palestinians rejected it.

He denied, when asked, that the Israelis were concerned by the new idea raised by Solana, calling it 'still very unclear' and pointing out that it would be problematic to enforce an imposed solution.

'How will they enforce the solution that the Security Council will have adopted,' he asked.

'How will they enforce a border? How will they enforce whatever they decide on Jerusalem. How will they enforce the solution they will find on the refugee problem?

'This is complete nonsense,' he told the German Press Agency dpa, adding: 'Nowhere in the world has the UN decreed a solution. If it were so easy, why not call upon the Security Council to simply decree peace everywhere around the globe? Why just the Middle East?'

Solana had told a lecture in London on Saturday that international mediators should set a timetable for Middle East peace negotiations.

'If the parties are not able to stick to it, then a solution backed by the international community should be put on the table,' he said at the Ditchley Foundation.

This, he argued should be done through a UN Security Council resolution that should include 'all the parameters of borders, refugees, Jerusalem and security arrangements.'

The UN would then accept the Palestinian state as a full member, and set a calendar for implementation.

'I strongly believe the time has come to, finally, bring this conflict to an end. The international consensus is there,' he said according to a transcript from his office.

'Time,' he argued, 'is of the essence' and the second half of this year 'crucial if we want to offer a real choice to the Palestinian people when they (are scheduled to) vote in January 2010.'