EU pitches counter-offers to Palestinian statehood bid

EUObserver reported that EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton unveiled an alternative proposal to a UN vote on recognising Palestine as part of the Middle East Quartet initiative on the 23 September 2011. But soft language on Israeli settlements and a competing French idea put the scheme in doubt.

This took place after after Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas formally submitted his request to the United Nations for Palestine to be admitted as a full member on the 23 September 2011.

EUObserver, 26.9.11: EU opinions multiply on Palestinian UN upgrade http://euobserver.com/24/113734

EUObserver, 23.9.11: Palestine fed up with waiting for EU common position http://euobserver.com/9/113717

The Economist, No.8752, 24.9.11: Charlemagne. High noon over Palestine http://www.economist.com/node/21530133

EUObserver, 28.9.11: Ashton shows pro-Palestinian side at EU parliament http://euobserver.com/24/113753

European Parliament: Press Release, 27.9.11: MEPs debate situation in Palestine http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110923IPR27376/html/MEPs-debate-situation-in-Palestine

ESO: Background information: Europeans feel diplomatic heat over Palestine http://www.europeansources.info/record/europeans-feel-diplomatic-heat-over-palestine/

European Union: EEAS: Press Release, A377/11: Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following the Middle East Quartet meeting in New York http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124736.pdf

European Union: EEAS: Press Release, 23.9.11: Middle East Quartet Statement, New York, 23 September 2011 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124734.pdf

EU: EEAS: The EU and the Middle East Peace Process http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/index_en.htm

BBC News, 25.9.11: Mahmoud Abbas receives http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15054039

BBC News, 21.9.11: Europe's diluted solution to Palestinian aspirations http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15011040

Deutsche Welle, 24.9.11: Peace process in the balance after Palestinian statehood bid http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15413558,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 24.9.11: Abbas Appeals to the World's Conscience http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,788154,00.html

France24, 24.9.11: Mideast quartet envoys call for peace deal by 2012 http://www.france24.com/en/20110924-mideast-quartet-envoys-direct-peace-talks-ashton-blair-ban-clinton-lavrov-palestinian-statehood-membership-un

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