Well it looks as if the EU High Representative Javier Solana is heading to the Middle East to help cement a permanent cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. His goal is not simply a cease fire, but a comprehensive peace agreement and a two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
It also appears as if Solana and many other world leaders are trying to convince Hamas and Fatah to unify again under Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and form a Palestinian unity government by late February. I would assume that this would be done, so that a two state solution would be easier to negotiate and enforce.
Of course like I have said in earlier posts it appears as if the EU is ready and in position to help enforce security measures with troops and with other military means. The article posted below states, "Several EU countries, including Britain and France, also are offering naval vessels and monitors to help Egypt curb the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. The EU already has observers on standby in the region and is ready to send monitors back to Rafah, Egypt's most strategic crossing point into Gaza, if the current cease-fire is maintained."
Stay tuned.
Curt
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BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said Monday he is heading to the Middle East to join international efforts to cement a permanent cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.
The move comes as the EU steps up humanitarian aid to ease the suffering of the Gaza Strip's 1.4 million residents.
Solana said he probably will spend the whole week in the region and meet with U.S. President Barack Obama's new Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Tuesday.
"We want a permanent cease-fire, and for that everybody has to cooperate, and I hope very much the initiatives taken by the Egyptians ... will provide results," Solana said.
Meanwhile, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel announced €58 million ($74 million) in emergency aid Monday for Palestinians affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Michel was in Gaza on Monday to evaluate future aid needs.
The Israeli assault meant to crush Hamas rocket squads ended Jan. 17 with an estimated 1,300 Palestinians dead.
Around €32 million ($41.7 million) of the aid package will go to alleviate immediate needs such as shortages in drinking water, food and medical supplies. Another €20 million ($26 million) will go to projects in the West Bank, the remaining €6 million ($7.8 million) to Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
The European Commission last month approved €3 million ($3.9 million) in emergency aid for Gaza.
In Brussels, EU foreign ministers discussed a package of diplomatic and practical measures that European countries could take to advance Middle East peace efforts. Their goals include halting arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip and promoting a unity government between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced plans to send five German border experts to help their Egyptian counterparts patrol their Gaza border more effectively. The German experts would provide technical support for operating night-vision equipment needed to find smugglers' illegal tunnels into Gaza.
Several EU countries, including Britain and France, also are offering naval vessels and monitors to help Egypt curb the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
The EU already has observers on standby in the region and is ready to send monitors back to Rafah, Egypt's most strategic crossing point into Gaza, if the current cease-fire is maintained. An EU monitoring mission at Rafah operated sporadically from 2005 to 2007.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Sunday he is optimistic that Egyptian-mediated talks will be able to forge a Palestinian unity government under Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by late February, when an international donor conference to rebuild the Gaza Strip is expected to be held.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/26/europe/EU-EU-Middle-East.php
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