New York, NY, December 8, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today criticized the conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process adopted by foreign ministers at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, calling them "deeply flawed, based on a distorted view of the current situation and counterproductive to moving the peace process forward."

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

The EU action has seriously undermined its credibility as a member of the Quartet and an impartial participant in the peace process.  Despite efforts by several states to temper the even harsher language introduced by Sweden, this final product retains the two major flaws: prejudging the status of  Jerusalem and thereby undermining negotiations; and putting the onus solely on Israel, thereby increasing the obstacles and providing further disincentives for Palestinians to negotiate.
 
The conclusions are deeply flawed, based on a distorted view of the current situation and counterproductive to moving the peace process forward.  The whole affair raises serious questions about the EU role as interlocutor between Israel and the Palestinians. There was no mandate for the EU to take this action and many compelling reasons why they should not have.

At a time when the government of Israel has repeatedly expressed a willingness to resume negotiations with the Palestinians and has made difficult unilateral concessions to demonstrate its commitment to doing so, the EU has chosen to be harshly critical of Israel and to give the Palestinians and Arab countries a pass.  It is difficult to see any reason for the Palestinian Authority or the Arab states to modify their steadfast unwillingness to move the peace process forward.  The EU action unduly complicates efforts to bring the parties back to the table.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.