Brussels, 28/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - In the conclusions adopted on Monday 28 January, EU foreign affairs ministers said that they were “seriously concerned” by recent events in Gaza and the “serious perturbations” at the border with Egypt. Faced with acute shortages in essential products and multiple power cuts since the Israeli imposed blockade on their territory, people from Gaza last week forced open the border with Egypt. The Council of the EU is worried by the situation in territory controlled by Hamas and is calling on Israel to, “ensure that the provision of essential goods is not interrupted and that essential services continue to be guaranteed, including the provision of fuel and electricity”. It again called for, “all parties to work urgently to opening the passage points for entering and leaving Gaza, for both humanitarian and trade purposes”.
In the current context, the Council is giving its support to the Palestinian Authority's proposal to take control of the border passage points, which it lost control of when Hamas took power in Gaza. It is also supporting the efforts of the Egyptian government to find a peaceful solution to the current situation. Although Egypt wants to re-establish shared control of the border with the Palestinian Authority, Israel and European observers, Hamas is refusing to go back to the previous situation in Rafah and reject any solution that excludes its forces or includes the deployment of foreign observers. According to the Council's conclusions, the EU is, on the other hand, “prepared to resume its monitoring mission in Rafah”, according to the terms of the agreement concluded in November 2005. It also reaffirmed its determination to continue to play a pro-active role at the Quartet and continue its assistance activities.
The EU27 welcomed the launch of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians for a peace agreement by the end of 2008, as planned at Annapolis last November. The Council sees this as a “decisive time” for “regional and international partners to work efficiently towards a lasting and global peace process in the Middle East”. It pointed out that the “building of settlements in the occupied territories is illegal under international law”. Ministers also pointed out that “building settlements is an obstacle to peace” and Israel should freeze all settlement building. (A.B.)