"BRING ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 27th Oct 2005

Fiona Hall, the Liberal Democrat MEP for the North-East, has called upon the European Council, in its role as a member of the Quartet, to bring Israel and the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiating table.

This followed Israel's disappointing decision last week to break off diplomatic contacts with the Palestinian Authority.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg after a question session with Europe Minister Douglas Alexander, Fiona Hall said:

"Despite optimism after Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, the picture today is bleaker than hoped for: James Wolfensohn, who played such a critical role in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, has admitted, this week, that Israel has been dragging its feet.

"I appreciate that implementation of the Road Map will be a long and difficult process, but that is precisely why the Council, and other members of the Quartet, must do all they can, now, to bring Israel and the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiating table to ensure that the momentum from those early feelings of optimism is not wasted"

Douglas Alexander, President-in-office of the European Council, shared Ms Hall's feelings of frustration and disappointment. Whilst stressing that the European Union would continue to support the efforts of James Wolfensohn, the Quartet's Special Envoy for the disengagement from Gaza, Mr. Alexander emphasised that it was vital to take a longer view with regards to the peace process and the great test that it posed for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.