Palestinian National Authority ( PNA) Foreign Minister Riad Malki warned on Sunday night that the Palestinians will not talk to any anti-peace new Israeli government as Israeli settlement activities and other efforts aimed at changing "realities on the ground" are undermining Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects.
"We show our concern about the Israeli efforts to change realities on the ground in east Jerusalem, through the construction of settlement ... We have asked the EU troika to work to put pressure on Israel to stop such practices
to change realities on the ground," said Malki at a press conference following talks with top EU officials on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
He expressed deep concern over the prospects of a future right- wing Israeli government led by Likud leader Benjamen Netanyahu, who is entering
talks with far-right Israeli parties to form a possible coalition.
"These far-right Israeli parties all share the same principles: first of all ,they are totally against the establishment of an independent Palestinian state; they don't envisage a two-state solution; they want to continue settlement activities; they don't see a need to negotiate with the Palestinians as a way to achieve peace; and they do believe in the use of force as a means to achieve political gains," said the minister.
He said such a government should be described as "an anti-peace government" and the PNA will not enter into negotiations with such a government if it really refuses to stop settlement activities, refuses to accept the right of the Palestinians to establish an independent state and continues activities of incursions and attacks against Palestinians.
He said the possible formation of a right-wing Israeli coalition government should be a big concern not only for the Palestinians, but also for the international community which believes in peace and has been working extensively toward achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
He called on the international community to take measures to " make sure that the new Israeli government should be a government committed itself to peace with the Palestinians and a government committed itself to the international conditions and that wants to end occupation and believe in a two-state solution."
EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana urged the Israeli new government to be committed to a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
"The way in which the EU is related to a government (of Israel) that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different. They know it, and we have to keep on saying that," said Solana.
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, also expressed his hope that the new Israeli government will work for peace and for a two-state solution.
Sunday's talks, which also drew Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Jordanian Ambassador to the EU Ahmad Masa'deh, focused on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the reconciliation process among the Palestinian factions, and the Arab summit in Doha, Qatar in late March.
Malki said the Palestinians "are determined to make progress" by maintaining goodwill and tremendous efforts in order to achieve national reconciliation and unity.
"We hope the efforts will bring about tangible results" before the Arab Summit in Doha, he noted.