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Palestinians Sideline EU on peace process

Despite EU aid, the Palestinian government is not insisting on a more prominent European role in the peace process.
Activists unveil a giant Palestine flag in support of a Palestinian statehood outside the European Union Council in Brussels November 19, 2012.      REUTERS/Francois Lenoir (BELGIUM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3ALZ9
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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.

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