BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The European Union and several Arab nations on Tuesday expressed their willingness to cooperate with a new peace proposal for Gaza, but strongly stressed that any agreement must be based on a two-state solution as the only viable path to sustainable peace in the Middle East . European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the bloc’s stance, stating that while they are willing to contribute, the two-state principle remains a red line for European diplomacy and its partners in the region.
In a statement from Brussels, von der Leyen explained that the EU "is ready to actively contribute" to the implementation of a roadmap to end the conflict. However, she clarified that this support is intrinsically linked to respect for international consensus. "The only path to a just and lasting peace is one that guarantees the security of Israel and a viable, sovereign, and independent Palestinian state," the senior official emphasized. This position reflects the bloc's consolidated foreign policy, which has historically championed this approach as the pillar of regional stability.
European support would not be limited to the diplomatic sphere. According to Commission sources, the contribution could include a significant economic aid package for the reconstruction of Gaza, as well as technical assistance for the consolidation of Palestinian institutions and the deployment of observation missions to ensure compliance with the agreements. However, this entire support framework would only be activated if the final peace plan explicitly incorporates the parameters of the two-state solution.
The European Union's Position on the New Plan
The European Union's response, coordinated among its 27 member states, seeks to send a unified and clear message. Beyond von der Leyen's words, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has maintained contacts with his counterparts in the region to align positions. The goal is to avoid internal divisions and present a common front that could decisively influence the negotiations. The EU fears that a plan that ignores Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own could generate greater instability and undermine decades of diplomatic efforts.
European diplomats insist that any proposal must address the core issues of the conflict, known as "final status issues." This includes borders, security, the status of Jerusalem, and the situation of Palestinian refugees. An approach that focuses solely on economic or security aspects , without a clear political horizon for the Palestinians, is considered by Brussels to be a recipe for long-term failure.
Reactions in the Arab World and the Palestinian Question
At the same time, the main Arab capitals have reacted with a mixture of caution and firmness, in line with the European position. Key countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, historical players in mediating the conflict, have reiterated their commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This initiative offers Israel normalization of relations with the Arab world in exchange for withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
A spokesperson for the Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the kingdom "supports all serious efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace," but stressed that this peace must be based on "international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative." For its part, Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza and plays a crucial role in the mediation, has insisted on the need for a comprehensive approach that does not neglect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian National Authority, for its part, has stated that it will not accept any plan that does not contemplate a sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders.
What Does the Two-State Solution Entail?
The insistence of both the EU and the Arab countries on the two-state solution is based on a conceptual framework widely accepted by the international community for decades. Although the details have been subject to negotiation, its fundamental principles are clear and based on UN Security Council resolutions. Key components of this solution include:
- An Independent Palestinian State: The creation of a sovereign and viable state for the Palestinian people, coexisting in peace and security alongside Israel.
- Borders Based on 1967: The borders between the two states would be drawn based on the armistice lines prior to the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible mutually agreed exchanges of territory.
- Jerusalem as a Shared Capital: Most proposals contemplate a formula in which West Jerusalem would be the capital of Israel and East Jerusalem the capital of the future State of Palestine.
- Refugee Solution: A fair, equitable and realistic settlement to the Palestinian refugee issue, based on UN .
This framework is considered by its proponents to be the only alternative that respects the right to self-determination of both peoples and offers a long-term security guarantee for Israel. Any deviation from these principles, they warn, could perpetuate the cycle of violence.
Context and Challenges for a Lasting Peace
The new peace proposal comes at a time of heightened geopolitical complexity. Previous initiatives, such as the plan presented by the Trump administration, generated strong opposition from the Palestinians and much of the international community, perceived as an abandonment of the two-state consensus. The challenge for current mediators is to present a plan that is seen as balanced and can generate the necessary trust for both sides to return to the negotiating table.
The obstacles remain formidable. The expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal under international law , complicates the territorial viability of a future Palestinian state. Furthermore, the internal political divide between Fatah, which governs the West Bank, and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, represents an additional challenge to a unified Palestinian representation.
The international community is closely watching the next steps. The convergence of positions between the European Union and the major Arab countries creates a significant diplomatic bloc that could exert considerable pressure to ensure that any roadmap aligns with the principles of international law. The viability of the new peace plan for Gaza will depend largely on its ability to integrate the demand for a two-state solution as its central pillar.
In short, as a new window of opportunity for peace opens, the European and Arab powers have made it clear that their support will not be a blank check. Peace, to be lasting, must be just, and for most of the world, justice in this conflict inevitably involves the realization of two states living side by side in peace and security.
