A march started from Paris aiming to reach Brussels to demand that the European Union impose sanctions on Israel (Anatolia Agency)
The Financial Times quoted European officials as saying that the European Union urges its members to punish Israel if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state.
European officials added that the proposal "is an indication of the anger of Union members due to Israel's rejection of the two-state solution plan," as they put it.
Al Jazeera's correspondent quoted sources as saying that European Union foreign ministers are discussing the consequences that Israel may face if it rejects the two-state solution.
European Union foreign ministers will meet on Monday in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and their agenda is the two-state solution, despite Netanyahu’s statement that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The European ministers will also meet with the foreign ministers of Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, in Brussels tomorrow.
It is expected that during the meeting, which is the first of the Union's foreign ministers this year, preparations for holding an international peace conference for a two-state solution in the Middle East during the coming months will be discussed.
Among the topics on the meeting's agenda is also the European Union's preparations to impose sanctions on Jewish settlers who resort to violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.
European pressure
Yesterday, Saturday, a march in support of Palestine was launched from the French capital, Paris, aiming to reach Brussels by the first of next February, to demand the imposition of sanctions against Israel due to its violations in Gaza.
The demonstrators gathered in Place de la République in Paris, raising Palestinian flags, where they called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The march began heading to Brussels, which will host the European Union Council meeting on February 1.
Alaa El-Din Taqtak, a member of the French-Palestinian Solidarity Association, said that the demonstrators in Brussels will demand that European Union officials impose political and economic sanctions on Israel.
He added that the march participants will demand that the European Union stop the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, Tel Aviv stop imprisoning Palestinian women and children, an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to it.
On Friday, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, rejected Netanyahu’s statements opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
He said that despite Israel's insistence on rejection, the two-state solution will achieve peace, under pressure from the international community, and Borrell called on the Arab world, Europe, the United States, and the United Nations to encourage the two-state solution.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies