Strasbourg, 07/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - At an invitation from the GUE/NGL Group, Leyla Shahid, Palestinian Representative for the EU, spoke in Strasbourg on 5 September on the situation in the Middle East. She told the press she had the feeling that this is a time when, if all parties shoulder their responsibilities, it would be possible after the tragedy of this August to reactivate a dynamic political force that would open up prospects for the Lebanese, the Palestinians and also the Israelis. Europeans reacted swiftly and their approach has been seen in the region as “rapid and responsible”, she said, and “Europe has shown that it can be united”. Discussions on the creation of a Palestinian National Unity government may be “an opening” and contribute to putting an end to the political isolation of the Palestinian Authority. Se said it was “abnormal” for the Hamas-led government to be isolated although democratically elected. Convinced that the war in Lebanon has illustrated “defeat of the military solution”, Ms Shahid asserts that “Europe can be a major element” in seeking sustainable peace, and that, in her view, “the United States would not object to Europe playing a diplomatic role”. She finally recalled the dramatic situation faced by Palestinian territories: 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, 70% of the active population is without work, and Israel owes €750 million in customs tax arrears to the Palestinian Authority. She warned that this is a “time bomb” waiting to go off.