[1] As tensions in the Arab-Israeli conflict escalated, European countries decided that the current negotiations (as coordinated by the United States) were not working, that the situation was serious, and that they needed to intervene.
In justifying their role in the negotiations, the nine European countries cited their traditional and common interests as ties to the region.
They emphasized, in the fourth point of the declaration, that they were primarily concerned with “the two principles universally accepted by the international community: the right to existence and to security of all States in the region, including Israel, and justice for all the peoples, which implies the recognition of legitimate rights of the Palestinian people” ().
Furthermore, the Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia wanted to “scrap the Camp David Agreements, have Israel withdraw from all Arab territories occupied since 1967, and the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem”.
The United States treated the Venice Declaration and its aftermath carefully; they were committed to Camp David, but did not want to come into conflict with the Saudis.