Strasbourg, 14/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - Dramatic. Unacceptable. Worrying. There was no shortage of epithets for the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Members of the European Parliament foreign affairs and development committees, meeting on the evening of 13 January, denounced the violations of international law by Israel, and called for the Israelis and Hamas combatants to put an end to the fighting. Many questions went unanswered, however, and, in particular, the stance to be adopted by the EU.
Addressing MEPS, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner set out the desired chain of events: cessation of fighting, evacuation of the wounded and free passage for humanitarian workers, and, finally, as soon as a ceasefire is in place, the instigation of a political process to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The EU is ready to send an EU mission to Rafah” so that the crossing point can be re-opened, since “we have to do all we can to help the civilian population of Gaza,” Ferrero-Waldner said. The biggest problem for humanitarian NGOs was, she said, how to distribute aid in Gaza itself, and the daily three-hour halt in attacks was far from enough.
Breaches of international law. Véronique de Keyser (PES, Belgium) and seven colleagues returned from a visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday 11 January. While there, they saw for themselves the “unbearable situation” of the people, who have been effectively cut off from the rest of the world. They said they were not diplomats, “what is happening in Gaza cannot be described”, and an organisation like Hamas cannot be compared with the democratic state of Israel. “We are in a situation of complete lawlessness,” de Kayser said, and she called on Europe to “demand” that a partner like Israel comply with humanitarian law and UN resolution 1860. “Israel is the only government in the world that would allow itself to commit such crimes against humanity with complete impunity,” stated Willy Meyer Pleite (GUE-NGL, Spain). Time had come he said, for tangible steps, such as a freeze on arms sales by European countries. Pierre Schapira (PES, France) said that Gaza faced a double blockade (on both the Israeli and Egyptian sides) and there had to be negotiations with Cairo to allow the people to leave Gaza and, also, to allow doctors in. The commissioner, with the help of humanitarian organisations, will press this point. In more pragmatic terms, Karl Von Wogau (EPP-ED, Germany) wanted to know what means would be put at the disposal of the EUBAM Rafah operation. Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (ALDE, UK) was worried that the conflict might spread, and expressed surprise that Hezbollah had not, as yet, become involved. If it were to intervene, what would we do, she asked.
“I also said that the Israeli response was disproportionate, but the blame lies with Hamas” for not renewing the ceasefire, Ferrero-Waldner said. “In reality, there are two partners who do not want peace.” Rather than holding a donors' conference, the commissioner, at this point, was thinking more in terms of a humanitarian conference.
The powerlessness of the EU. Luisa Morgantini (GUE-NGL, Italy) railed against the “powerlessness” of the EU, and its “inability” to solve the problem. While the people of Gaza were trapped, unable to leave their territory, we could not, she said, continue to wait and tell Israel to respect international law. “A state like Israel should be held responsible for its actions,” but, here, “we are failing to live up to our principles and values,” opined Ana Gomes (PES, Portugal). “The EU response has been a failure,” argued Vittorio Agnoletto (GUE-NGL, Italy) who, like many, could not see relations with Israel continuing as if nothing was happening while military operations continued in the Gaza Strip. “Are you prepared to tell us that improving EU-Israel relations will be suspended so that, at least, we will be able to say that there has been some reaction on our part?” asked Gay Mitchell (EPP-ED, Ireland) unambiguously. Several of his colleagues joined him in asking such a question. “The fact is that the Israeli action is out of proportion and we are doing nothing,” he stated. “Europe is looking as if it is completely powerless,” agreed Josep Borrell (PES, Spain) and, in a question that sounded more like a biting answer, he asked, “What is the EU going to do? Pay to repair the damage?”
While acknowledging her “feelings of frustration”, Ferrero-Waldner said that, at least, the EU had achieved a political solution in principle (which had not been respected). “There was nothing before we intervened”, now there was a possible outline of the start of something. But, while the EU could do something, for example in terms of observers, “what more can be asked than a Security Council resolution? Tell me!” she responded. With regard to improving relations with Israel, “I have given instructions. For the moment, we have to see this in the context of the conflict”, but improving relations is part of the wider neighbourhood policy, Ferrero-Walder said. Ultimately, it was up to member states to determine the path that was to be followed. (A.B./transl.rt)