MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, the Israeli president visited Brussels for the first time ever to meet with Tusk and other European officials.
"Lasting peace in the region remains a top priority for the European Union. We continue to work with both sides and coordinate with partners in the Middle East… to support the two-state solution. The European Union is ready to back up a peace deal with an unprecedented package of cooperation and support to both Israel and the future state of Palestine," Tusk told reporters after meeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Brussels.
"We will continue to provide assistance to Palestinians living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to help them meet their basic humanitarian and development needs."
Palestinians seek recognition for their independent state on the territories of West Bank as well as East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government denies Palestine's claims, refusing to diplomatically recognize the existence of a Palestinian state. Peace talks between the sides are consistently deadlocked.
