Jerusalem December 12th, 2012 Dear Baroness Ashton,

On behalf of the party I chair, MERETZ, as well as a in the name of a multitude of likeminded Israelis who are supportive of Peace with Palestine and between Israelis and Palestinians, I hereby wish to express outrage and condemnation of statements made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liebermann. Such statements were voiced by him yesterday, in response to the statement released by the Council of the European Union in Brussels, 10 December 2012, on the Middle East Peace Process. Approaching the general elections in Israel, we do not accept a politically motivated statement which is addressing political partisan expediency at the expense of Israeli diplomatic relations with Europe. We object in no uncertain terms to accusatory language used against any European Government of indifference to the security of Israel. We condemn in the strongest words any allegation that European Ministers for Foreign Affairs aspire to see Israel in harm's way and its future in doubt. Furthermore, I wish to express our shared concern which "underlines the urgency of renewed, structured, and substantial peace efforts in 2013". We have advocated for support of the Palestinian initiative in the UNGA to secure the status of Non Member State. We believe it is a substantial contribution in the direction of exiting the political impasse which endangers the brittle security and stability in the Middle East. Reignition of the bilateral peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine is an urgent and prime necessity in this respect.

Meretz Party Central Branch | 13rd Shontsino st., Tel Aviv Jaffa | Tel: 03-6223252 | info@meretz.org.il

We share the view that the Arab Peace Initiative is an important component in the efforts to bring peace to the region and should be part of the political agenda of Israel. We share with you the conviction that settlements on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem are an obstacle to peace and impede any possibility to bring about the realization of the "Two State Solution", which is the only viable solution to the Middle East conflict. We also support your stand that the Government of Israel should honor its commitments in the Paris Protocol, including the monthly transfers of tax and custom revenues. Any punitive measures the Government of Israel applies towards the Palestinian Authority is undermining sensitive security interests of both Palestine and Israel and are motivated by irrelevant domestic partisan considerations. We equally believe that inflammatory statements by Hammas leaders which deny Israel the right of existence are unacceptable. They are answered by our outright condemnation. We thank Europe for its support of Israel, of our security and prosperity, and for your concern for peace between Israel and Palestine, and in the Middle East at large.

Zehava Galon, MK Chairperson of MERETZ

Meretz Party Central Branch | 13rd Shontsino st., Tel Aviv Jaffa | Tel: 03-6223252 | info@meretz.org.il