On her two-day trip to the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urged Palestinian and Israeli officials to "find a satisfactory way to engage without delay in substantive negotiations on all final status issues."
Shortly before departing on Thursday, Ashton released a statement announcing her "personal commitment" to the peace process, which has been largely stalled since 26 September when Israel resumed settlement construction on lands Palestinians hope will soon be their state.
Ashton suggested that the Middle East Quartet, comprising the EU, US, UN and Russia, meet on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in early February, ahead of the April Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the coordination of assistance to the Palestinians in Brussels.
She added that in support of the political process, Europe was prepared to host a Second Donors' Conference in Europe later in the spring.
Ashton reiterated that the EU believed that Gaza's crossings should be opened and the siege lifted.
"There is no alternative to a negotiated solution," Ashton said, adding that "Urgent progress is needed towards a two state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security as part of a just and comprehensive peace."
The statement comes amid Palestinian moves to have statehood recognized unilaterally and with international backing, in an attempt to establish a state without relying on peace talks with Israel.
Four South American countries officially recognized Palestinian statehood in the past month, joining four others with Paraguay and Uruguay pledging to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders in the coming year.
During her visit, Ashton met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, his Foreign Minister Liberman, Defense Minister Barak and Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni, as well as President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Ashton also visited the Aida Camp and Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.