European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton power balance said “urgent progress” is needed toward Middle East peace as she began a visit to the region.

Ashton, who will be in Israel shop today and the West Bank tomorrow, said in an e-mailed statement ahead of her visit that “there is no alternative to a negotiated solution” between Israel and the Palestinians.

Ashton’s visit comes after Palestinian officials have said they would like to see the European Union take a more active role in their negotiations with Israel, which broke down in September.

The talks collapsed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to renew a 10-month freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he won’t return to talks until settlement building ends.

Abbas said on Jan. 2 that a peace deal could be reached within two months if Netanyahu was ready to make decisions on core issues such as borders, security, refugees and the future of east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu replied that he is ready to sit jackets with Abbas “until smoke rises,” once the Palestinian leader is prepared to resume direct negotiations that would address the core issues.

The Israeli leader will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Jan. 6 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in what his office said is an effort to “put together ways to move regional peace forward.”