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Europe's help for Palestine This is what European commissioners in Brussels are considering ASSUMING that there is a Middle East settlement, which is a big assumption, the Europeans want a stake in it. In this exclusive report, we describe what might happen. The opening of foreign embassies in the East Jerusalem capital of a Palestinian state and the moving of existing embassies from Tel Aviv to Israel's capital of West Jerusalem are amongst a number of diplomatic and security measures under consideration by the European Union (EU). These measures are in addition to a comprehensive programme of post-peace financial support for the Middle East, as disclosed by Foreign Report in issue 2608. Ever since its foundation in 1948, Israel has tried to persuade foreign states to recognise Jerusalem as its capital and to locate their embassies there. Even the United States has resisted on the grounds that the city's legal status was uncertain. Under the UN's 1947 Palestine partition plan, the city was to be under international control, with the western districts in Israel and the eastern districts in Palestine. The 1948 war ended with Israel in control of the western districts while the Old City and the eastern districts were annexed by Jordan, along with the rest of what is now termed the West Bank. Busy troika As well as recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving its embassies to the city from Tel Aviv and opening embassies in the Palestinian capital, the EU would send its 'troika' to key regional states such as Iran and Saudi Arabia to lobby in favour of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. The troika comprises the foreign minister of the country holding the EU's six-monthly rotating presidency (presently Hubert Vedrine of France), Chris Patten, the EU commissioner for external relations, and Javier Solana, the former NATO secretary-general who is now the EU's High Representative with responsibility for formulating a European foreign and security policy. In a further gesture to underline Europe's support, the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian state may be invited to attend plenary sessions of the European Parliament and the European Commission's General Affairs Council, which oversees foreign policy. Tea for three Encouraging gestures could be made. "Her Majesty the Queen might invite the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Buckingham Palace, for example," said a British official familiar with developments. However, at present "it's all at the stage of brainstorming", the official added. "The general idea is for both sides to feel Europe's strong political support for the peace accord." Europe would also respond positively to requests for security guarantees for a peace accord - something which Israel and the Palestinians would almost certainly seek. "Given the general American reluctance to commit forces overseas, the United States would probably not want a presence on the ground", said another well-placed Brussels source. "America's main task is to get the peace agreed." Military observers would be provided to ensure Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the agreement, including an anticipated clause requiring Palestine to be demilitarised. The Europeans would also help Palestine to monitor its border with neighbouring Jordan and, in that regard, one form of aid being discussed is the provision of military intelligence reports. In Brussels, hopes of a breakthrough in the deadlocked Middle East peace process are dissipating fast. "We are very, very pessimistic," said one official. "But we have to ask: 'what if?' We have to prepare, even if a peace deal looks unlikely right now."
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