EU push to kick-start Palestinian talks

Palestinian hopes for their own state are in danger of coming to an end, Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan warned yesterday, as the EU announced the launch of a new initiative to restart collapsed peace talks.

Buoyed by the success of the EU’s actions in bringing about a solution to the Iran nuclear problem, France proposed a new framework to build alliances to push for a Middle East deal.

There were fears that with Israel’s right-wing government reacting against the Iran deal, the EU’s external action service would try to appease them by easing pressure over illegal settlements in areas earmarked for a future Palestinian state.