Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo pose during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, November 23, 2023. Borja Puig de la Bellacasa/Moncloa Palace/Handout via Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez advocated for an international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The proposal aims to establish a viable Palestinian state, and Sanchez emphasized the need for a serious and credible prospect for peace. With peace talks stalled since 2014 and ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Sanchez’s call for a political settlement seeks to break the cycle of violence.
After discussions with Netanyahu, Sanchez revealed plans for an international peace conference, endorsed by the European Union, Arab League, and the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation. He stressed that peace, from Israel’s perspective, involves the creation of a viable Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, in accordance with U.N. resolutions.
U.S. officials have indicated that the current conditions are not conducive to restarting peace talks due to the entrenched positions of both sides. Sanchez, accompanied by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, suggested that both Israel and the Palestinians must demonstrate “political courage” for peace to be achieved. The leaders attended meetings as part of their roles in the current and upcoming rotating presidencies of the Council of the EU.
Sanchez also mentioned the Union for the Mediterranean summit on November 27-28 in Barcelona as an “ideal place” to reinitiate Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, emphasizing equal footing for both sides. Israel and the Palestinian Authority, along with neighboring countries, are members of this Mediterranean grouping.
The historical context of the conflict was highlighted, referencing the 1991 multilateral peace conference in Madrid that paved the way for the 1993 Oslo interim accords. However, subsequent negotiations on creating a Palestinian state faced challenges related to borders, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlement expansion, and the status of Jerusalem. Sanchez’s diplomatic efforts aim to navigate these complexities and foster a renewed commitment to peace in the region.
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