The European Union has backed the United Nations Security Council vote on the Middle East crisis and urged Israel to fulfill a key U.N. demand and withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities.
EU foreign affairs envoy Javier Solana spoke yesterday with U.S. Secretary State Colin Powell during debates on the resolution, which was the first censure of Israel to be supported by the United States.
The document called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities and for a ceasefire.
Solana's spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach said the EU warmly welcomed the resolution approved by the Security Council on the crisis in the Middle East. She continued "we ask for an immediate and full implementation of the two main issues agreed in the resolution".
The two main issues of the resolution are the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Ramallah and Arafat's headquarters and the second is an immediate implementation of a ceasefire, she said.
The EU also supported the U.N.'s call for an immediate end to acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction.
The U.N. resolution was approved after violence sweeping the region for 18 months shifted up a gear when Israeli troops launched an assault on the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Friday.
Gallach said Solana planned no trips to the region for the moment. As well as speaking with Powell, Solana had also been in contact with the Israelis, Palestinians and EU capitals.