Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH – The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) welcomed on Saturday EU plans to ban its 28 members from dealing with Jewish settlements, hoping the move would push forward peace efforts. The settlement guidelines were published in the EU's Official Journal on Friday morning despite the lobbying by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. The guidelines significantly restrict Israeli institutions from taking part in various EU programs and being eligible for EU grants, prizes and financial instruments if they have activities beyond the Green Line. GCC states “welcome the European Union's decision which they hope will back international efforts to revive peace talks between Palestinians and Israel, and press Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories,” said GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani in Riyadh. Zayani described the decision as “wise and reflects the EU's solid stance in rejecting Israel's settlement policy and its confiscating of Palestinian territories in a clear violation of all agreements, international law, and UN resolutions.” The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement, a copy of which was received by Saudi Gazette: “Today the EU published a document that reiterates the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967.” The EU is severely opposed to Israeli construction beyond the 1967 lines, and has acted repeatedly to draw a clear line between Israel and its settlements in the West Bank. Ashton added that “this is meant to clarify the EU's position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014.” “In no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been the EU's long held position that it will recognize changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties,” the statement added. According to the statement, “The EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage. In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties.”
