"We are very grateful for the European Union, their continuous support to us by all means. And this visit from His Excellency, the continuity of this European support for the road map to be implemented quickly, and in spite of the Israelis who are, till now, refusing to accept the road map. Instead of that they are escalating their military aggression against our people, against our cities, refugee camps, and our farms, our factories. And in spite of that we are insisting to follow up the peace of the brave which I have signed with my partner Rabin (Yitzhak Rabin, former Israeli Prime Minister) in the White House. And we are committed also now for the road map."
The Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called for the so-called roadmap to be implemented as soon as possible following a meeting with a European Parliament delegation on Thursday.
The Palestinians have already announced their acceptance of the plan but Israel says it has reservations.
The 'road map' envisages a series of confidence building measures aimed at ending the current cycle of violence, and the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israel tries to dissuade foreign visitors from meeting Arafat, saying such visits are not helpful to the peace process and sideline the newly elected Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen.
