Brussels, 04/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers sent the Israeli Foreign Minister a letter on 29 January protesting at the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure funded by the European Union. The question of an official protest along with a list of the destroyed infrastructure was discussed and decided upon at the General Affairs Council last Monday (see EUROPE of 24 January, p.5). In his letter, Josep Piqué, the acting President of the General Affairs Council, expressed the EU's firm rejection of this destruction which the EU sees as being disproportionate to military, security or police requirements. The "destruction of essential economic and social infrastructure in the Palestinian Territories is the cause of widespread human misery, weakens the Palestinian Authority and contributes to political instability", notes Mr Piqué.
Mr Piqué's letter to Shimon Peres begins by pointing out that at the start of the peace process, the Israeli government called on the European Union and its Member States to increase economic aid for the Occupied Territories with a view to supporting the peace process. It ends by an appeal by the European Union to urgently put an end to its practices and respect the efforts of the international community to support the development of a stable and viable Palestinian economy. The EU reserves the right to follow up this issue in an appropriate manner, notes Josep Piqué, echoing the Council conclusions but not mentioning compensation. The letter is accompanied by a detailed list (including figures) of the damage wreaked by the Israeli forces on Palestinian infrastructure funded by the EU (see EUROPE of 24 January, p.5).
"we will try not to damage the infrastructures financed by other European or other donors. One should look at the situation in a broader context: there is a war against terror in the Palestinian territories. Damages are not due to the satisfaction of destruction but to fight against terrorism", explained the Israeli Ambassador to the European Union, whilst emphasising that the letter had not yet been received. According to the Mission spokesman, the focus was on investment not damage and that Gaza airport could be repaired.