Brussels, 22/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 November, Europeans hailed the agreement on the ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Welcoming “wholeheartedly” the proclamation of the ceasefire, the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy, said that it is “now crucial to ensure its implementation and to prevent the restart of violence”. They said that the events of recent days show “the urgent need” to move towards a two-state solution. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton commended “the efforts of Egypt and all those who engaged in mediating between the parties to secure this ceasefire”. She said that it is crucial to put an end to “all violence” and to enhance security in the region, and she added that the EU will continue its efforts “to ensure a sustainable solution to the present situation in the Gaza Strip”.
An adviser from the Mission of Israel to the EU, Yoel Mester, told EUROPE on Thursday 22 November that “Israel will respect the ceasefire, but reserves the right to react in self-defence to its violation by the terrorist organisations”. He stated that the objectives of Israel's campaign were “to act against the terrorist infrastructures operating from the Gaza Strip and to stop the firing of rockets at Israel in order to bring about an improvement in the security reality and allow a normal life for the residents of the State of Israel. (…) These goals have been achieved.”
British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged all parties to respect their commitments. In his view, “this ceasefire is an important step towards a lasting peace. The priority now must be to build on the ceasefire and to address the underlying causes of the conflict, including more open access to and from Gaza for trade as well as humanitarian assistance, and an end to the smuggling of weapons.” French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius hailed the entry into force of the ceasefire, saying that “it is important that all its terms be strictly respected by all parties”. His Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, said the key lies in the opening of crossing points and the facilitation of the movement of people and of transfer of goods.
Earlier in the day, before the ceasefire was official, Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and her Belgian counterpart, Didier Reynders, had condemned the attack on a bus in Tel Aviv which had left ten people wounded - three of them seriously.
Parliament resolution condemning violence and supporting Palestinian request.
On Thursday 22 November, MEPs said that “all attacks must end immediately because they cause unjustifiable suffering among innocent civilians”. In its resolution, the Parliament supports “Palestine's bid to become a UN non-member observer, and considers this an important step in making Palestinian claims more visible, stronger and more effective”. It calls on Europe to support this bid. During the debate the previous day, Veronique De Keyser (S&D, Belgium) said that “it is up to Europe to take its responsibilities by supporting (the Palestinian president, who will make this request) Mahmoud Abbas. (…) We have a historical, spoken responsibility which is based on international law.” She added that by refusing this status to Palestine - which has been independent since 1988 - “we give grist to the extremists, to those who scoff at European weakness”. In the opinion of Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Greens/EFA, France), “we need a clear 'yes' to the defence of Israel's security and a 'yes' to a Palestinian state. We need to support Abbas' strategy otherwise we in fact support those who do not want peace”. Patrick Le Hyaric (GUE/NGL, France) supported the proposal reproaching Israel for “using fear and Palestinian blood for an electoral campaign” and aiming to prevent Palestine from obtaining non-member status at the UN. Charles Tannock (ECR, United Kingdom), on the other hand, said he was “not convinced of the need to grant the status”. He recalled Israel's right to self defence and said that there will be no outlook of peace “if Hamas maintains its objective of destroying the state of Israel”. Diane Dodds (NI, United Kingdom) said that the EU does not “necessarily” have to support the Palestinian status but to be a “viable, honest” partner in order to create confidence from the two sides.
Reaffirming their “strong support for the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders”, the MEPs call in their resolution for the creation of conditions enabling the resumption of peace talks and call on the EU and its member states to play a “more active” political role.
During the debate, Ignacio Salafranca (EPP, Spain) said that “it is necessary to consolidate a ceasefire that protects civil society and supports the moderates. (…) There will not be security as long as we do not confront the deep causes and injustices that feed the hatred in the region”. In the opinion of Annemie Neyts-Uytterbroeck (ALDE, Belgium): “the status quo is not tenable and not sustainable. Everything needs to be done to find a peaceful solution for the continuation and (…) to help remove the causes of the conflict”. Bastiaan Belder (EFD, Netherlands) called on all the European institutions to take “a responsible position in this chronic conflict. Above all; it needs to be directed against all the forces in the Middle East that deny and threaten the existence of Israel. An urgent message from the EU is needed for the protectors of Hamas, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey” (our translation throughout).
In their resolution, the MEPs repeat their call for the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, subject to a control to prevent arms smuggling, and call for measures to be taken to enable the reconstruction and economic recovery of Gaza. (CG/transl.fl)