Ashton in the Middle East

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, has kicked off her first official trip to the Middle East with tough talk for Israel.

Addressing members of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, Ashton voiced her disapproval of Israel's decision last week to approve the construction of 1,600 new homes in West Bank settlements, just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reluctantly agreed to begin indirect peace talks. Those talks have since been put on the backburner.

She said the move "endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks."

"The EU position on settlements is clear," she said. "Settlements are illegal, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed criticism of the move, both from Ashton and the US. "Construction will continue in Jerusalem as this has been the case over the past 42 years," he told members of his Likud party on Monday. Mainly Arab east Jerusalem was first occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War. It was later annexed in a move not recognized by the international community.

Ashton pushes for resumption of peace talks

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must begin again, she said, and Europe was determined to move the peace process forward.

"These talks are urgent," Ashton said. "Urgent because I fear for the future. Urgent because Israel has a popular prime minister who owes it to his people to move to the (two-state) solution he supports. Urgent because the Palestinians, despite everything … are willing to engage."

Ashton has faced criticism in Europe for her perceived lack of visibility and the address was seen as her first major test since being appointed to the top diplomatic position in December.

A whirlwind tour of the Middle East

Ashton has a full agenda; after speaking to the Arab League and meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, she is to head to Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She confirmed on Monday that she would visit the Gaza Strip, an announcement she coupled with more sharp words for Israel.

"The blockade of Gaza is unacceptable," she said. "It has created enormous human suffering and greatly harms the potential to move forward."

"I will travel to Gaza myself to meet with the population on the ground and assess how our support is working on the ground," Ashton said.

The EU spends about 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in the Palestinian territories every year and is the largest contributor to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

hf/AFP/dpa
Editor: Susan Houlton