A storm over anti-Semitic remarks in Hungary's parliament continued unabated Thursday, as a far-right Jobbikdeputy called publicly for the resignation of a fellow MP who claimed to have Israeli citizenship.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz greeted news of the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s successful bid for non-member observer status at the UN General Assembly in New York Thursday as being in line with the assembly’s calls for the PA’s claims for statehood to be made more “visible”, on the path to achieving Europe’s desires two state solution in the region.
After gov't responds to Palestinian UN status upgrade by approving building of 3,000 units in W. Bank, J'lem, US says ''actions counterproductive and make it harder to resume direct negotiations or achieve a 2-state solution.''
European leaders sought to project a united front following their disparate showing at the UN General Assembly Thursday in New York, which saw no consensus position adopted amongst member states at the vote on upgrading the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s status, as they looked to the challenging task of reigniting stalled Middle East peace talks.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today called on Israel and the Palestinians to find the “political will and courage” to move ahead with talks aimed at establishing a lasting peace between them through Palestinian statehood and security for Israel.
Israel’s army recent operation in Gaza “certainly has not destroyed Hamas, it might even have the opposite effect of making Hamas stronger in the longer term,” asserted British Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson during a debate in the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
Ron Prosor says Palestinians not ready for statehood, calls on international community to consider consequences of ''destructive'' UN bid and for Abbas to return to negotiations to build foundations for peace.
An inter-communal conference in Brussels Thursday, which will play host to leaders from across the Muslim and Jewish communities, hopes to tackle issues of freedom of religion as well as rising racial incitement and anti-Semitism in Europe.
