Brussels, 04/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Reacting to the violations of international and humanitarian law by the Israeli authorities during the Gaza war, 13 MEPs have signed a call for all European Union governments to support sanctions as provided for in the EU-Israel association agreement and a freeze on building cooperation relations until such time as Israel complies with international and humanitarian law and agrees to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions. The call was signed by Frenchman Francis Wurtz, Italian Luisa Morgantini and Cypriot Kyriacos Triantaphillides for the GUE/NGL Group, Spaniard Josep Borrell, Belgian Alain Hutchinson and Irishman Proinsias De Rossa for the PES Group, Frenchwoman Hélène Flautre, Briton Caroline Lucas and Dane Margrete Auken for the Greens/EFA Group, Britons Liz Lynne and Chris Davies and Austrian Karin Resetarits of the ALDE Group, and Belgian Frieda Brepoels for the EPP-ED Group.
Returning from Gaza, Wurtz was highly critical of the “relentless attack on the civilian population” by the Israeli army. He called for aid to be allowed freely through an end to the blockade that is stifling the Gazan economy with the opening of crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the opening of an international investigation into the attacks against civilian targets, putting in place an international protection force, and a much more proactive EU policy on the Palestinian issue. “This will require greater political courage,” he said. Borrell, too, witnessed the effects of the war when he accompanied Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel. He criticised “the desire to cause as much damage as possible”, and he spoke of the razing of factories and the destruction of hospitals. It would be good that the EU investigate human rights violations during the Gaza war, said former EP President Borrell. (M.B./transl.rt)