Strasbourg, 18/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Hailing the ceasefire concluded in the Middle East on 26 August, the European Parliament asked the European Union on Thursday 18 September to do more on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the joint resolution that they adopted (447 votes for, 143 against and 41 abstentions), the MEPs call on the EU to participate “effectively” in the urgent humanitarian aid effort and in the reconstruction of Gaza through full participation in the international donor conference in Cairo (Egypt) on 12 October.
Stressing that “providing full and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to the population in the Gaza Strip must be an immediate priority”, the MEPs urge the international community to intensify its efforts in this regard and to answer as a matter of urgency the emergency appeals for additional funding of UNRWA - an organisation which the MEPs recognise for the considerable importance of its work. “EU humanitarian and financial assistance must fully benefit, in the most efficient way possible, the Palestinian
people, and must never be used, directly or indirectly, for terrorist activities”, the MEPs add.
While hailing the EU's resolve to contribute a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict, the Parliament urges the EU and its member states once again “to play a more active political role, also within the Quartet, in the efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians”. The MEPs support the high representative in her efforts to create a credible perspective for re-launching the peace process. The Parliament also applauds the fact that the EU is ready to support a possible international mechanism, “including through the reactivation and possible extension of the scope and mandate of its EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS missions on the ground”. (CG)