PA President Mahmoud Abbas waves with released Palestinian prisoners. Photo: Issam Rimawi/FLASH90.

Times of Israel – While praising Benjamin Netanyahu for being bold in his peace efforts and for seeking to prepare the Israeli public for compromise, the European Union’s ambassador to Israel said the prime minister had made the wrong decision in agreeing to release long-term Palestinian prisoners as part of the current negotiations.

In an interview, Lars Faaborg-Andersen said that “had the EU been asked to advise Israel on which of the three positions [sought by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] to accept as the basis for discussion — accepting to discuss [Palestinian statehood] on the [basis of the pre-] ’67 lines; accepting a settlement moratorium, or releasing 104 pre-Oslo prisoners — I know which two of those the EU would have pointed the Israeli government to take. You didn’t do that,” he said. “That’s your own sovereign choice. You also have to deal with the consequences.”

Read full story.