Schwarzenberg: EU states share view of Middle East conflict but not how to end it

The Czech Republic and other European states share a view of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, but they cannot reach agreement on how to achieve peace in the Middle East, the Czech minister of foreign affairs, Karel Schwarzenberg, said after a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, in Prague on Tuesday. Mr. Schwarzenberg said he agreed with his visitor that Palestine should become a real state, but said the two differed on tactics. The Czech Republic is commonly considered an ally of Israel and in December was the only EU member to vote at the UN against granting observer status to the Palestinians.