Eurocommissaris Tajani bezoekt Israël (en)

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Transport is today in Israel where he met Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Israeli Minister for Transport Shaul Mofaz. Tajani is on a 4-day visit where he will also deliver a speech at the opening of the 4th International Space Conference on Wednesday 28 January.

"Europe needs to play a leading role in the peace process, guaranteeing Israel its right to survive. No one can deny Israel its right to exist in freedom. At the same time we would like to see the establishment of a Palestinian State governed by moderates," said Tajani following his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister. "Europe wants to reinforce the Palestinian Authority which it deems as the interlocutor while Hamas in breaking the ceasefire cannot be considered so".

The Vice-President added that "it is necessary to help those Arab states that believe in the peace process while blocking terrorists from gaining from malcontent and the inexistence of a stable situation in the Middle East".

Tajani stated that Hamas missed an historical opportunity in opting for confrontation by breaking the cease-fire with Israel. The European Union needs to ensure that funds destined for the reconstruction of the Gaza strip are used exclusively to help the Palestinian people and not by radical elements for other purposes.

In his meeting with Minister Mofaz, where the two discussed EU-Israel transport relations, Tajani proposed to revitalise the idea of a "common office for transport" between the EU, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which was in turn welcomed by Minister Mofaz.

Vice-President Tajani will tomorrow visit Ramallah where he will meet Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Palestinian entrepreneurs.