“Check against delivery”
Presidents,
Prime Ministers,
Excellencies,
When the night is darkest, we must hold fast to our compass. And our compass is the two-State solution. 7 October has opened one of the darkest chapters in the history. We all agree that the tragedy in Gaza must stop right now. And hostages, released. But ending the war might not be enough, if there is no pathway to peace. If the prospect of two States is no longer viable. And as we speak, the two-State solution is being undermined. This cannot be. Because the only realistic peace plan is based on two States. With a secure Israel, a viable Palestinian State and the scourge of Hamas removed.
Since the beginning of this war, Europe has been the lifeline of the Palestinian Authority. We have put together an unmatched and unprecedented financial package of EUR 1.6 billion. But as the very survival of the Palestinian Authority is at stake, we must all do more.
This is why we will set up a Palestine Donor Group. Any future Palestinian State must be viable also from an economic point of view. And this can only be achieved with the support of the Palestinians neighbours. We Europeans will set up a dedicated instrument for Gazas reconstruction – in coordination with other donors efforts. Gaza must be rebuilt. The Palestinian economy must be relaunched. And I invite all of you to join in the effort to make this happen.
Of course, in the end, only the Israelis and the Palestinians can agree on the way forward. But the international community has so much to contribute. We can facilitate. We can rebuild. But most importantly, we can keep hope alive.
Thank you.
