The European Union urged Israel today to work with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in order to save the shattered Middle East peace process.
"Israel needs a partner to negotiate with, both in order to eradicate terrorism and to work towards peace: this partner is the Palestinian Authority and its elected President Yasser Arafat", a declaration issued during a summit of EU leaders said.
The statement, read out by Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, called on the Palestinian Authority to crack down on and dismantle Islamic Jihad and Hamas. It also called for an end to the intifada and urged Israel to pull back its forces from the occupied territories and to halt extra-judicial executions.
The bloc said it would be willing to play a role in a peace monitoring mechanism.
European foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana said he would begin a new round of Middle East shuttle diplomacy in the coming days with trips to New York and Washington. He said he also planned to contact regional leaders.