In light of the US monopolization of the thus-far failing talks between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel, and the exclusion of other international powers from the negotiations, it is time to reconsider the methodology of the peace process and the makeup of those in charge of it. The Palestinians should apply pressure to push for reintroducing the European Union (EU) and other powers into the process.

Palestinians have become accustomed to criticizing the EU for its weak influence on the political track when compared with the dominant role of the United States. While Palestinians admit that the EU is more generous in terms of the financial assistance it provides the Palestinian Authority (PA), they continue to discredit it for playing only a secondary role when it comes to political influence. It is only natural that the EU would be dissatisfied with an equation in which they pay more, but get less influence.

A key European figure revealed to Al-Monitor that one reason behind the dwindling European role in the peace process is the Palestinians' lax stance, which does not insist on an active European presence in the process. The Palestinians have a number of cards that they could play to exert pressure in favor of activating the roles of the EU and other international parties, such as Russia, China and India. There also are other areas worth examining concerning the EU’s position toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The EU and the Palestinian cause