Brussels, 05/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 5 July, the European Parliament said that direct talks “leading to a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians should be resumed without delay and according to the deadlines called for by the Quartet, in order to overcome the unacceptable status quo.” The EP called on the Israeli government to stop building or extending settlements on the Left Bank and in East Jerusalem, which the EU says are illegal.
Adopting a joint resolution by the Greens/EFA, S&D, ALDE and GUE/NGL (not the EPP) by 291 to 274 with 30 abstentions, the EP “welcomed the exchange of letters between the parties initiated on 17 April 2012 and the joint statement by Israel and the Palestinian Authority of 12 May 2012”, in which the two sides commit to seeking peace. The EP, however, expressed “its deepest concern about developments on the ground in Area C in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.”
The EP “reiterated that all settlements remain illegal under international law and calls on the Israeli government to stop all construction and extension of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and to dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001”. The EP “strongly condemns all acts of extremism, violence and harassment committed by settlers against Palestinian civilians and calls on the Israeli government and authorities to bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice and hold them accountable”.
The European Parliament “calls for full and effective implementation of existing EU legislation and EU-Israel bilateral agreements to ensure that the EU control mechanism - the 'technical arrangements' - does not allow Israeli settlement products to be imported to the European market under the preferential terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement”. The EP also “calls on the Israeli government and authorities to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
The EP calls for an immediate, long-lasting and unconditional lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip for people, humanitarian aid and goods, which should be accompanied by measures to rebuild the economy of the Gaza Strip. MEPs recognise Israel's legitimate needs for security and calls for an effective control mechanisms to prevent arms being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, and they hope that the EU border control aid at the Rafah crossing (extended until 30 June 2013) will play a key and decisive role in the daily management of cross-border relations and the restoration of confidence between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Adopting an amendment lodged by the EPP Group (adopted by 362 to 207 with 30 abstentions), the EP calls on Hamas to recognise the state of Israel and to support the search for a two-state solution. It also urges Hamas to end the violence carried out both inside and outside Israel. (LC/transl.fl)