Brussels - European Union diplomats on Monday urged the next Israeli government not to abandon the two-state solution as the goal of the Middle East peace process, as coalition talks in Israel continued.

"I think we could have a rough start but we need to move ahead with the peace process because the two-state solution road is narrowing and we can't take the luxury to wait," said the Czech Republic's Europe Minister Alexander Vondra ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The Czech Republic currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Asked about the prospects of a coalition headed by hardline Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said that the EU should push Netanyahu not to enter into a coalition which would call the two-state solution into question.

"I think it's very important that we send a strong signal that that is not going to be acceptable," he said.

But EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stressed the bloc was "ready to cooperate with the government elected by the people."

"I think the time for crisis management is over and we have to (focus on) conflict resolution as soon as possible," Solana said.

Solana plans to tour the Middle East this week, ahead of a March 2 Gaza donors' conference in Egypt.

EU officials also urged Israel to re-open border crossings into the Gaza Strip, with Bildt saying that "reconstruction without ending the siege is useless."

Israeli President Shimon Peres asked Netanyahu to form a government on Friday, after holding consultations with the country's party leaders.

Although Kadima won 28 seats in the election, one more than the Likud, a majority of factions recommended Netanyahu for the premiership. (dpa)