Brussels, 06/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - Miguel Angel Moratinos, Bernard Kouchner and Franco Frattini, the foreign ministers of Spain, France and Italy respectively, will be in Gaza this month to carry out an on-the-spot verification of whether the Israeli embargo on Gaza has been relaxed, as promised by the Israeli government, reports EFE, the Spanish press agency. This was announced by Spain's head of government, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, during a press conference on Monday in Madrid with the Syrian president, Bachar el-Assad. Zapatero gave his assurance that Spain and the EU would adopt a “demanding” attitude with a view to reaching a compromise towards Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had invited all his European counterparts to visit Gaza (EUROPE 10169).
According to EFE, Zapatero also offered his country's “political and diplomatic” assistance in rekindle talks between Syria and Israel, which were held indirectly under the aegis of the Turkish government. Zapatero's discussion partner pointed out the precondition that Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights, an area that was occupied by Israel during the war in June 1967.
Catherine Ashton: “significant step forward”
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who does not yet know whether she will accompany the foreign ministers to Gaza, issued a statement on 5 July on behalf of the EU. The statement describes the new Israeli announcement regarding the blockade of Gaza as a “significant step forward”. Once implemented, the measures should not only improve the lives of the ordinary people of Gaza but also address the legitimate security concerns of Israel.
The EU plans to make a detailed examination of the lists of products either controlled or banned by Israel from access to Gaza, published on Monday by the Israeli Embassy in Brussels. “I hope that the complete implementation of these measures will allow for the reconstruction of Gaza and the revival of its economy”, Ashton said.
Private sector development and commercial activity, including exports, will be “crucial” for the recovery of Gaza, Ashton said, saying the “movement of persons and trade between Gaza and the West Bank should remain one of the key objectives”. It is necessary, the statement reads, to “enable the people in Gaza to reconstruct their homes, to build schools, to improve infrastructure and start new businesses”. “As stated by EU foreign ministers last week, the EU is ready to support Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the opening of land crossings”, Ashton states. She reiterates the request for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit, and says: “We will continue discussions and examine the details of the proposed changes and their implementation with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Quartet Partners”.
At another level, and despite a secret meeting held last week in Brussels (EUROPE 10174), Israel is alienating itself from a country that has hitherto been a strategic partner and useful intermediary, cited by Zapatero before the Syrian president. That country is Turkey.
Ankara calls on Israel to acknowledge its wrongs in the attack against the “peace flotilla” end May, an attack that left 9 dead on the Turkish side, and demands for a credible investigation into the matter. Israel “will never apologise” to Ankara, a senior official from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private office said on Monday, his remarks being reported in the international press. “Of course, we regret the loss of life but it was not Israel that triggered the violence”, he said. One should also note the statement to AFP by the spokesman for Foreign Minister Ygal Palmor, who asserted: “When one asks for an apology, you don't use threats or impose ultimatums”. The threat of breaking diplomatic relations is cited in the media but has still to be confirmed. The opinion expressed by the Israeli spokesman is that “everything points to Turkey having another objective in this affair”. It is learned, moreover, that the Israeli government decided on Sunday to extend the mandate of the independent Israeli public commission of inquiry into the legal aspects of the attack on the peace flotilla. The UN Security Council has, for its part, demanded an “impartial, credible and transparent inquiry in line with international criteria”. The European Parliament has also made this demand, and noted the Goldstone report on what has been happening in Gaza since the Israeli assault at the end of 2008. (F.B./transl.jl)