Strasbourg, 09/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - Opening the debate on Tuesday on the tragic and dangerous Middle East situation, the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, again condemned terrorism, saying that in full friendship and being very frank, we have to tell our friends the Israelis that military action must stop immediately… We already know how greatly the civilian population is suffering… Human rights and civil liberties are being violated… This is not simply an anti-terrorist action but action that is sliding towards war. The United Nations Resolutions must be applied and everyone must respect international law, said Javier Solana, asking what was the point of Israel's military operations since they would neither lead to an end to terrorism nor secure sustainable peace for the population. One of the consequences of it, he said, would be the destruction of the Palestinian Authority, and he wondered who they would negotiate with, saying that the Palestinian Authority had to be restored if one wanted the foundations for peace. Action was needed on all fronts, he said, and Yasser Arafat had to be freed to be able to meet his staff. Javier Solana noted that Zinni had been able to meet Arafat, but not the Palestinians who are supposed to negotiate! We want two States, said Solana, that are both recognised with secure frontiers and that can live side by side. He said that in Madrid a mechanism would have to be drawn up to allow a way out of the deadlock, in order words to not only achieve a cease-fire but also a sustainable peaceful solution. He said he would return to the EP on 24 April to report back on the situation.
Speaking for the Council, Ramon de Miguel, stressed that the conflict would not end until the occupation ended and the terrorist attacks ceased. He also said that the Spanish Presidency completely support the High Representative. "The right of Israel to fight against terrorism should not limit the freedom of the elected President of the Palestinian Authority" and called for full and immediate application of Resolution 1204, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the total freedom of movement for Mr Arafat, diplomatic access as well as that of humanitarian personnel to the whole region. Commissioner Chris Patten explained his intervention and said that the alternative to a Palestinian Authority was anarchy, which was what Israel sought.
The EPP/De group seeks to promote peaceful co-existence between the two States, asserted Fin, Ilka Suominen. She warned that if terror continued we could react against Israel and suspend the Association Agreement. The President of the Socialist Group, Enrique Baron, said that the European has a massive political responsibility from which it could not back out. He said that Israel was born out of a UN decision and had to respect the decision of the UN. He also highlighted the sending of an international interposition force, as well as an embargo of the Association Agreement until a positive sign was made by Sharon, as well as the setting up of an arms embargo from the EU to both sides. He indicated that he would be coming to Parliament on 24 April to review the situation. The President of the Liberal Group, Graham Watson, also urged for an immediate embargo to be imposed on arms exports and the sending of an interposition force under the aegis of the UN. He called for an emergency meeting of the Association Council. Mr Watson concluded saying that Mr Sharon should perhaps think again - does he wish to be one of the first clients of the future International Criminal Tribunal? French Green member Alima Boumédiene-Thiery gave an emotional account of the visit made by several MEPs to Ramallah last weekend. She said, "we do not have the right to remain silent". She also took a stance in favour of suspending the Association Agreement and supported the despatch of an interposition force. "I cried because we were so powerless (…) I cried when I was unable to help a wounded Palestinian", said Italian member of the Left Group, Luisa Morgantini (PRC). She again urged for an end be put to the "colonialist" impulses of Sharon's government. Speaking on behalf of the Union for a Europe of Nations Group, French national Charles Pasqua, noted that the EU has not yet found the means to bring all its weight to bear in putting an end to this situation, and he stressed that this would have an impact on European countries. Speaking for the Group of a Europe of Democracies and Diversities, Dutch member Bastiaan Belder argued in defence of Mr Sharon's policy. Italian Radical Benedetto Della Vedova said Sharon hopes to destroy terrorism but is preparing new terrorists. He recalled the request put forward by the Radicals to offer Israel full integration into the EU.