NNA - The European Union's special envoy to the Middle East peace process, Sven Koopmans, said he was determined to "move forward in his efforts to implement the two-state solution, which the Israeli government rejects."

Koopmans added in an interview with Agence France-Presse that the priority today is to seek to end the suffering in Gaza, while working to avoid the outbreak of a regional war, and relaunching the peace process.

He stressed that Brussels is indeed one of the capitals witnessing activity aimed at getting out of the crisis, and that all member states agree on the need to establish a Palestinian state.

It is noteworthy that three member states of the European Union (Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia) recognized the State of Palestine during the months of May and June 2024.

Koopmans stressed that "the repeated statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government, which express firm opposition to the recognition of a Palestinian state, will not deter him from continuing his work."

He said: "Netanyahu has a different point of view from the point of view of a large part of the rest of the world, and if he rejects this or that... does not mean that we should stop working."

On the other hand, Koopmans said, "I have not heard anyone who opposes the two-state solution announce what they are proposing instead."

Koopmans also indicated that "the European Union is keen on the continuity of the Palestinian Authority and the strengthening of its government."

He stressed that "it is unacceptable that humanitarian aid trucks are piled up at the Gaza Strip crossings and are not allowed to enter, and that Israeli settlement expansion and the violence it generates in the occupied West Bank continue."

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