We must stick to our values

The international spotlight is back on the Middle East process, and thankfully so. Catherine Ashton, the EU's chief diplomat, visited the region a few days ago. So did Tony Blair, the UN Quartet's special envoy. US envoy George Mitchell was in the region last weekend and the Israeli Prime Minister is holding talks with President Obama as I write.

Last Friday, the UN's Quartet on the Middle East called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity. Speaking on behalf of the Quartet, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel's announcement of plans to build new homes in disputed East Jerusalem. This is a step in the right direction.

A few days before the Quartet's announcement, the Obama Administration had stood up to the Israelis' insistence on building new settlements in East Jerusalem. It seems that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is now stepping back on these settlement plans, at least in private conversations with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These announcements have to be matched with deeds. Actions at this stage are key. Confidence-building between the Palestinians and the Israelis hinges on meaningful actions taken by both sides.

The Israeli people would favour a two-state solution once they know and genuinely believe that Palestinians are capable of building a Palestinian state which is properly and securely governed with robust institutions with the necessary rule of law and order.

On the other hand, the Palestinian people need to know that the Israelis intend to allow them a viable state. If the Palestinians truly trust the Israelis on this, they would favour a two-state solution. And when I say the Palestinian people, I'm of course including those living in the Gaza Strip. These two concepts are at the heart of the UN Quartet and its role is mainly geared to building confidence around these concepts.

But the Quartet's role is, as it were, one side of the coin. Mr Blair likes to see the Quartet's job as a bottom approach, i.e. helping the Palestinians build infrastructure and helping Palestinians keep law and order in the Palestinian territories. This is where the EU comes in, together with the Quartet, of course. On this front we have seen encouraging results during the past two years, also thanks to Dr Salam Fayyad's efforts and not just the Quartet's and the EU's.

The other side of the coin is the negotiation between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The Obama Administration is trying to resuscitate these talks, first with proximity talks, then hopefully with direct talks. These talks would be led by Mr Mitchell, Washington's Middle East envoy.

Fundamentally these negotiations have to solve disputes over the status of Jerusalem, the borders of Israel and a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees. The releasing of prisoners from both sides is still at the heart of the conflict.

The tensions between Hamas and Fatah would ease if Israel relaxed its blockade on Gaza, thus giving it a much-needed lease of life. The legitimate economy in Gaza is virtually stalled while the black economy is thriving.

The challenge is formidable. More often than not frustrations run high after 50 years of conflict in the region.

Since my working days with Guido de Marco at Malta's Foreign Office, I have learned not to get carried away. It does not help, in my view, to take a side and antagonise the other. I have spoken a number of times with my fellow MEPs on this. Antagonising the other side with speeches does not help in finding a lasting peace solution. It often has the opposite result, that is, entrenching divisions even further. In conflict resolutions, taking one side and attacking the other often benefits the speaker but not the parties in conflict.

To this end, I believe that the European Parliament, as the representative of the European peoples, must only side with its fundamental values of peace and justice. Anything short of that hampers a lasting peace solution.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.