Brussels, 27/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a common resolution on the Middle East tabled by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and UEN groups, urging the new President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and Ariel Sharon's new Israeli government to seize the opportunities provided by the Palestinian election results to relaunch negotiations over the Middle East Roadmap for Peace. The EU was urged to urgently launch a new initiative at Quartet level, particularly with regard to the United States, to step up efforts to bring peace to the region. The Council, EU High Representative for CFSP and European Commission were urged to continue with aid to the Palestinian Authority, and the Palestinians to extend dialogue with Israel. The EP 'strongly encourages President Abbas to act upon his willingness to end violence' and hailed attempts already made by Abbas, along with his willingness to step up controls by the Palestinian security forces. The MEPs assert that full political support from the United States and the European Union, and cooperation with the Israelis, will be vital to meet these objectives. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be settled through the negotiation of a firm and final peace agreement, as set out in the Roadmap, which the MEPs described as remaining valid, without preconditions, based on a two state solution (the existence of two democratic, sovereign and viable states living peacefully side by side within safe and recognised borders). The resolution condemns all terrorist attacks and blind acts of violence on both sides, urging Palestinian armed groups to end their terrorist attacks, and the Israeli government to avoid reprisals and its targeted killings of Palestinians. The EP urges Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and other parts of the Occupied Territories 'in partnership and negotiation with Egypt… and the Palestinian Authorities' under the auspices of an international mission of observers. The EP reiterated its call for the Israeli government to put an end to its policy of extending Jewish settlements, particularly in the area around Jerusalem, to stop building the security wall and to fully abide by the 4th Geneva Convention.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, briefed the plenary about the Palestinian elections and his own personal impressions after a seven-day visit to the region that coincided with the Palestinian presidential elections (see Europe of 8 and 15 January). In a very personal speech, Solana said the Palestinians aspired to peace and an end to the occupation. He said he had been 'very shocked' at the appalling living conditions in Gaza, saying that all the Palestinians he'd been able to talk with, whether parliamentarians, academics, businessmen, or men and women from civil society, had told him that the vote for Abbas was above all a cry for hope. Palestinians want a bit of hope in the short and the long term, said Solana. He said that for this reason, it was essential that by the Palestinian general elections in July 2005, Abbas can demonstrate that things are changing in people's everyday lives with the lifting of one of the 'too many' checkpoints, improving the financial and social situation of families and a controlled release of political prisoners (there are 11,000 of them). For this, Abbas will need support from all sides, including the EU, said Solana. Israel is prepared to make a gesture, he said, but wants security guarantees. The new Palestinian authorities still have a lot to do to regain minimum levels of confidence from the Israeli side and move from a 'logic of confrontation' to a 'logic of cooperation', said Solana, noting that the first signs were encouraging.
The EU could contribute in many ways to helping ensure the new opportunities for peace were seized, said the High Representative, like maintaining relations of trust with both sides to be able to influence their choices in the peace process; and giving all the support necessary for re-establishing security. The EU has already sent a small team of experts to help Member States coordinate bilateral aid to the Palestinians, provide expertise for reforming the Palestinian security services; and take measures to improve the economic situation in the Occupied Territories. Solana said a donor conference should be held soon and the situation post-withdrawal from the Gaza Strip needed to planned now. How can the circulation of goods and individuals between the Gaza Strip, Israel, the West Bank and the rest of the world be ensured? How can this by done while providing Israel with security guarantees? How can the plans for an airport and a port in Gaza be relaunched? Solana asked these three questions and asked about potential financial malpractice at the Palestinian Authority, saying he had 'full confidence' in the Palestinian finance minister and his ability to properly manage European aid.