Brussels, 13/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Deeply concerned by the announcement of the Israeli government to construct 3,000 new settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the European Parliament called on Thursday 13 December for an immediate, complete and permanent freeze on all Israeli action to construct and enlarge settlements, and it called for a halt to the expulsion of Palestinians. In a joint resolution adopted by the Parliament, MEPs call for the immediate release of the tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority, which have been suspended by Israel, and they call on the parties to appeal for EU mediation to settle the financial differences. The MEPS demand the full and effective implementation by the EU and member states of all current European legislation and the bilateral EU-Israeli agreements in force, including those applicable to products coming from the settlements.
The Parliament urges Hamas to recognise Israel's right to existence, condemning the declarations of the political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshal. The Parliament also calls for Palestinian reconciliation. The MEPs ask the Palestinian Authority and Israel to re-start the peace process, and they call on the EU and its member states to play a more active political role. (CG/transl.fl)