Spain to promote Israel-Pals ties to EU; Sharon to reroute wall

By: Mohamed Ali

TOLEDO, Spain: The Spanish government will help Israel and Palestine achieve closer ties to the European Union as an incentive to advance the Middle East peace process.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said this Sunday at a brief news conference with former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

“An association of Palestine and Israel” with the EU at “the conclusion of this peace process ... is an idea” worth consideration, she said. “We need to discuss it in the European Union and see how we can integrate it into the peace process… So, my commitment is to discuss it, to put it before European” institutions.

Meanwhile, political sources said on Sunday Israel intends to shorten the route of its West Bank barrier, cutting out most of the loops around Jewish settlements in a bid to secure US support for the controversial project and the annexation of Jewish settlements.

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