Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, arrived in Jerusalem today, as promised, in an attempt to put new impetus into the peace process in the Middle East. Solana had previously promised to revisit the Middle East late November or early December, after a six day tour of the region. So far it seems the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire is holding, despite Kassam rockets continuing to fall on Sderot. And I know all about ceasefires "holding", we've had our fair share of them in Northern Ireland. 

Quote: "Like the rest of the world, the European Union is determined to see Israel relinquish its right to its ancient homeland, enabling a hitherto unknown 'State of Palestine' to be established in Judea, Samaria and Gaza in the hope this will lead to peace. The EU's foreign policy pusher, Javier Solana, seeing in this past week's diplomatic flurry a renewed chance to achieve that goal, jumped over to Jerusalem Friday with the reported intention of trying to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert into meeting with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Solana's meeting with Olmert comes just days after he rejected out-of-hand the suggestion that EU troops police the Gaza border. Earlier last month Olmert also rejected the Spanish Middle East peace initiative. I didn't report on this because I see Olmert as being stubborn-minded, and I believe the European Union will eventually have its way no matter what Israel says. Perhaps that's why in this particular article, the author is so angry. If it were my country, I'd probably be angry too. The EU is also keen to see the formation of the unity government, and I expect that issue will be high on Solana's agenda. If the EU can get a government with which they can work with, they will be able to pressure Israel and the Palestinian Authority to make peace. Watch this space...

Source Jerusalem Newswire