On Tuesday 7 October, two years to the day after the bloody attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, followed by a devastating military response from the Jewish state, MEPs debated once again the role of the EU in the most recent peace efforts. Like EU leaders (see EUROPE 13720/9), some MEPs have welcomed the new peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump.
“It’s now or never: a genuine diplomatic breakthrough is on the table, shaped by President Trump and broadly supported by the Arab and Muslim world, including those with the greatest influence on Hamas”, said Hildegard Bentele (German) for the Christian Democrats in the EPP Group.
On behalf of the Patriots for Europe (PfE), Portuguese MEP António Tânger Corrêa welcomed “an extremely positive step forward”.
Conservative MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, Dutch) felt that the Trump Plan had “all the ingredients needed to achieve a lasting peace”. “We must not miss the opportunity that this plan represents to relaunch a peace process and prevent another ‘7 October’”, he said.
The left wing of the House, on the other hand, is calling for solid guarantees, particularly within the pro-European majority.
“Trump’s peace is better than bombs, but it must guarantee the Palestinians' right to remain in Gaza”, said Villy Søvndal (Greens/EFA, Danish), denouncing “European inaction”.
“Trump’s plan cannot just be used to stop the war and free the hostages. Any peace plan must also serve to pave the way, once and for all, for the creation of the Palestinian State, because without this prospect, there can be no peace”, stressed Iratxe García Pérez (S&D, Spanish). “The main obstacle to peace is Netanyahu. Because Netanyahu has admitted funding Hamas to make a two-state solution impossible”, she continued.
The President of the Social Democratic Group called on the Council of the EU to suspend the EU/Israel Association Agreement without delay, by imposing sanctions on Mr Netanyahu’s government and declaring an arms embargo. “[The EU Council] must do this at the same time as it puts in place a mechanism for Gaza to rebuild what has been destroyed and restore dignity to the Palestinian people”, insisted Ms García Pérez.
Discussions underway between Member States. The President-in-Office of the Council of the EU, Danish Minister Marie Bjerre, has stated that the most recent EU sanctions envisaged against the Israeli government were still being “discussed” between EU countries (see EUROPE 13712/13).
“Based on our continuous commitment to the Palestinian and Israeli people and our support to regional integration, the European Union is well positioned to offer valuable contribution. (...) The two-state solution remains our commitment”, assured Ms Bjerre. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)