ANGERED by the apparent stalling of the Middle East peace process, the European Summit is to send Israel a signal of its growing impatience, writes Patrick Smyth.
A draft statement being prepared for agreement today comes close to backing the Palestinian demand for statehood, in a significant hardening of the EU position. Traditionally, the Union has refrained from endorsing a particular outcome for the long awaited "final status" talks.
The draft text of the conclusions calls on the people of Israel to recognise the rights of the Palestinians to exercise self determination without excluding the option of a state. The creation of a viable and peaceful sovereign Palestinian entity is the pest guarantee of Israeli security.
The French, supported by the Irish, were seeking to replace the reference to "entity" by "state", but diplomats said it was likely the current wording would be maintained.
The summit is not expected to produce the usual mountain o0f foreign policy positions because of pressure of IGC work, but foreign ministers were last night also working on statements on the Congo, the handback of Hong Kong, Albania, and the Mediterranean.
The Congo statement will warn the new government of Mr Laurent Kabila about the link between aid and recognition for human rights, and call for full assistance to the UN human rights mission presently in the country.
Reuter adds from Cairo: Egypt announced yesterday a series of high level visits to recruit European support for its attempt to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
President Hosni Mubarak will have talks with President Jacques Chirac in Paris on Thursday, the Foreign Minister, Mr Amr Moussa, said.
The agenda will include the Middle East peace process, the European role in peace talks and diplomatic efforts to move the process forward, he said.
Mr Moussa himself will start a parallel European tour tomorrow, visiting first Italy, France for Mr Mubarak's visit, and then London, the minister added.
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinians for the past month in an attempt to break the impasse which started in March when Israel decided to build a Jewish settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.
Mr Moussa met the chief Palestinian negotiator, Mr Saeb Erekat, in Cairo yesterday.