EU Aims to Create Palestinian State in 5 Years says Top Diplomat

The European Union's newly appointed top diplomat said she will work to oversee the creation of a Palestinian state within five years.

The EU's High Representative Federica Mogherini said the EU can play a pivotal role in finding a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which she said is one of her main goals in the new office.

"I'd be happy if by the end of my term, a Palestinian State was to exist," Mogherini said in her first interview since taking office earlier this month.

The 41-year-old former Italian foreign minister said that, as proof of her commitment, she is to visit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza in her first official trip at the end of this week.

She explained that the EU will work with other Middle Eastern players, such as Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq as part of a new integrated approach to address regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The time has come to promote a coordinated approach, including the question of Palestine and the relations between the Arab world and Israel," she told six European newspapers, including The Guardian, El Pais and Le Monde.

"It would be in fact difficult to grant security for this country [Israel] without a broader framework including Arab countries".

Commenting on Sweden's recent recognition of a Palestinian state Mogherini said the EU will not follow Stockholm's example, saying that it was establishing a Palestinian state was more important than recognising it.

Sweden took the historic step of officially recognising the state of Palestine last week, sparking and angered reaction from Israel.