EU’s top diplomat touts G20 ‘consensus’ on backing two-state solution

RIO DE JANEIRO — Foreign ministers at the G20 group of nations meeting in Brazil were of one opinion on the need for a two-state solution as the only path to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says.

“Everybody here, everybody. I haven’t heard anyone against it. There was a strong request for a two-state solution,” he tells reporters. “It is consensus among us,” he adds.

Borrell’s view is supported by other delegates who say every speaker who addressed the war in Gaza called for the two-state solution.

“There is a common denominator: there is not going to be peace … not going to be sustainable security for Israel unless the Palestinians have a clear political prospect to build their own state,” says Borrell, the EU minister for foreign affairs.

He says the crisis in Gaza extends to the West Bank, which is “absolutely boiling” as Israeli settlers are “attacking Palestinian civilians.” He makes no mention of a shooting attack there today by Palestinian terrorists who killed an Israeli and wounded numerous others.

Borrell says he asked G20 host country Brazil to “explain to the world that at the G20 everybody was in favor of this solution.”

“We have to mobilize our political capacity to push for this solution to be implemented. Otherwise is just wishful thinking,” he says.

Borrell says he expects Arab nations will make a peace proposal for Gaza in the coming days.