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Foreign Minister Steinmeier in the Middle East — Security for Israel and a Viable Palestine
Positive developments in the Middle East peace process and support for the upcoming Middle East conference in the USA were at the center of German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's talks in Israel and the Palestinian territories this week. In meetings with leaders, he presented his EU action plan, designed to foster improved conditions in the Palestinian territories. Steinmeier's proposal for an EU action plan in support of the peace process was very well received at the informal EU summit in Lisbon in October. Germany is now working with its EU partners to implement this proposal. Following meetings Wednesday with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli President Shimon Peres, Steinmeier was to meet with with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, as well as with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malki and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, on Thursday. In his talks, Steinmeier is urging the parties to make the conference in Annapolis later this month a success. To this end, he aims to help the parties harness the positive developments of the past weeks and months. At the beginning of his travels, Foreign Minister Steinmeier met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit in Cairo. New stability for the region Steinmeier wants to gain a first-hand impression of the efforts undertaken by the EU and the US in the security sphere. For instance, the EU has been making an important contribution towards training and rebuilding the Palestinian police force with its EU Police Mission (EUPOL COPPS) since January 2006. For modern and democratic security forces in Palestine can provide the Palestinian population with the protection from crime and gangs they need. What is more, they will safeguard Israel from suicide bombers and terrorist threats. Steinmeier is convinced that the EU will have to do much more to help train and equip the police force as well as to establish a strong judicial system. The package of measures relating to the security sector is thus a key part of the proposed EU action plan. Promoting the Palestinian economy Another element in the action plan will be boosting the Palestinian private sector. This would help the Palestinians to become less dependent on development aid again. To this end, the targeted promotion of small and medium-sized companies and the establishment of special economic zones is being examined. We intend to take the existing ideas of the EU and its member states further in a focused manner. The EU and its member states are already the biggest donors of financial and humanitarian aid in the region, having contributed more than EUR 800 million in 2007. Following Hamas' election victory, the EU developed the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM). Since summer 2006 this mechanism has been used to pump more than EUR 494 million in direct aid into the Palestinian territories while bypassing Hamas. The electricity, water and energy supplied with these funds has ensured that many hundreds of thousands of people have at least the bare minimum to survive. It preserved the Palestinian community from complete collapse. Developing state structures and the education system Other key elements of the action plan are education and functioning state structures, for a well-trained population is the best guarantor of democracy and economic progress. The emigration of talented young people must be halted. The EU can provide students and universities with assistance and should also help improve schools. Finally, a new Palestinian state needs functioning and transparent state institutions. The EU therefore has to step up the efforts it has already begun on reforming state structures, including the development of democratic parties. November 1, 2007 Links
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