“Mr. President, Esteemed Colleagues,

Mr Borrell, you stated that the United States Middle East peace plan departs from “internationally agreed parameters”.

You also used rather pointed language when you said that part of this plan “if implemented, could not pass unchallenged.”

Naturally, this evoked a reaction from our Israeli friends who warned that this type of “threatening language”-as they called it- could lead to the EU’s role in the peace process being “minimized.”

Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership has angrily dismissed President Trump’s plan as a “conspiracy”.

I think it is unreasonable to expect that either side would greet this proposal with enthusiasm.

Let us chose to view the glass as “half full” rather than “half empty”.

The US Middle East plan could serve as a basis for resuming talks in earnest, with the understanding that there are painful concessions to be made on both sides.

Mr. Borrell this is your moment to shine! Europe should assume a more prominent and active role as an honest broker of just and lasting peace, and encourage both sides to consider the plan as a starting point for reopening meaningful, goodwill negotiations.”

Watch the intervention here.