Brussels, 01/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Following the Israeli military operation against the “Peace” flotilla which was headed for Gaza, the sense of outrage is increasing. There have also been calls for a strong response from the EU to Israel.
“I am deeply shocked,” said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. “Nothing can justify violence on this scale,” he stated, adding that “these events are a reminder to us that the current situation in Gaza is untenable and that an urgent response is needed”. “We will do whatever has to be done to prevent this tragedy from leading to any further escalation of violence,” he said.
In the European Parliament, French Socialist MEP Kader Arif said that the attack was “morally unacceptable” and called for a “firm reaction”. The Parliament will very shortly have to decide whether to enhance relations with Israel, in its commercial chapter, noted Arif, who has responsibility for this matter for the Socialist Group. “I will stick to the position expressed by my group in 2008 at the time of the tragic Israeli military intervention in Gaza: so long as international law is not respected, or the blockade on Gaza lifted, or a real commitment to peace given, I will oppose closer relations,” he said. Tokia Saïfi (EPP, France), speaking on behalf of the EMPA (Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly) political, security and human rights committee, said that “it is not by acting in this way that Israel will shift dialogue towards peace and bring about a lasting resolution of the conflict in the Middle East”.
Within the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the postponement of the summit scheduled for 7 June is a reminder that the Middle East remains a priority issue. “At the risk of lasting discredit and total paralysis, the 2nd Union for the Mediterranean summit (will require) to break free from the usual chatter of international diplomatic fora and undertake resolutely to resolve the Palestinian issue, against a background of worldwide shock and horror at the Israeli assault on the European humanitarian convoy for Gaza,” writes the France-Palestine Association. In a joint text the members of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, a group made up of well-known figures, including Jewish figures such as Gisèle Halimi, and Nobel Peace prize winner Mairead Maguire of Ireland, call for an end to the obstacles by Israel to humanitarian aid sent to Gaza, obstacles which are close to a form of collective punishment which is banned by the 4th Geneva Convention (Article 33). They call for an international inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the assault on 30 May, and for the EU-Israel association agreement to be suspended, in line with provisions contained within the agreement. (F.B./transl.rt)