Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During the meeting, Sanchez proposed the idea of hosting an international peace conference to address the issue and find a credible prospect for peace.
Sanchez emphasized the urgent need for a serious and credible path towards peace in the region. He acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself but expressed concern over the high number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israel’s military response.
The recent Israel-Hamas war has further complicated the peace process, leading to the collapse of the last round of peace talks in 2014. In light of this, Sanchez and his colleagues have suggested convening an international peace conference, with endorsements from the European Union, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
However, United States officials have expressed reservations about resuming peace talks at the moment. Despite this, Sanchez has proposed relaunching the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue at the upcoming Union for the Mediterranean summit, taking place in Barcelona.
The importance of international cooperation in achieving a solution to the conflict is not lost on Sanchez. He reminded attendees of the meeting that Madrid hosted a multilateral peace conference in 1991, which eventually led to the signing of the Oslo interim accords in 1993.
Recognizing the Palestinian state in Europe and Spain is a foreign policy priority for Sanchez. He is determined to work towards achieving this goal, along with other diplomatic efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
The visit of British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to Jerusalem also contributed to the discussions on measures for attaining peace. Cameron emphasized the need for eradicating Hamas as a prerequisite for peace.
The proposed international peace conference and ongoing dialogue underscore the commitment of world leaders to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and find a sustainable solution that ensures long-term peace and stability in the region.
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