Return to Road Map

Solana told Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Tel Aviv on Thursday that the road map was "still alive" and Israel should remember that it too had commitments under it.

He called for a restart of the stalled peace plan, which was initiated three years ago by the EU, United States, Russia and United Nations but has been stalled ever since, he said: "We don't push enough to get it moving, too get the train out of the station.

"We have to have the road map on to the road and to the end of the road," he said, adding that result of two states living in peace and security was "very clear."

Europe would like to see "some movement... to give not only hope to the people, but (to) realities on the ground," he said, adding that Europe remained committed to the peace drive.

Solana calls for opening of border crossing

Solana, who was due later Thursday to hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, noted in particular the dire situation in the Gaza Strip and the closure of the Rafah border crossing to Egypt.

The crossing, the Palestinians' only gate to the outside world that bypasses Israel, has opened only occasionally since an Israeli soldier was seized by Gaza-based militants at the end of June.

While thanking the EU for its contributions, particularly in monitoring the crossing, Livni suggested that Israel may seek changes in the way the crossing is operated when its mandate comes up for renewal next month.

"We are going to negotiate with the Europeans about the future terms," she told reporters.

Political differences continue to divide

Solana's six-day Middle East trip, also to take in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, is part of an EU drive to use its newfound influence, beyond just being a substantial provider of humanitarian

aid.

But it takes place at a difficult political time in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is struggling to build a stable coalition, and the Palestinian Hamas-led administration and Fatah seem nowhere near achieving an internationally acceptable government.

Meanwhile, the Jewish state outright refuses to recognize the Hamas-led Palestinian cabinet.

Road map questions remain

Livni implicitly expressed doubts about Abbas, widely accepted by the EU, the United States and others as the main Palestinian interlocutor since Hamas came to power in January.

"We hope that Abu Mazen (Abbas) will be strong enough as a president to change things on the ground," she said.

With the EU backing Abbas, Hamas has steadfastly refused pressure to organize a government that will meet conditions set forth in the largely defunct Middle East road map to peace.

The United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations back the roadmap, which calls on the Palestinians to renounce violence, recognize Israel and agree to abide by past peace agreements for the aid to resume.

In exchange, the plan calls for a Palestinian state to exist in peace and security alongside Israel, which must in turn end illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.