Brussels, 16/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The political committee of the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), which met at the European Parliament on Sunday in preparation for its plenary session of Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, discussed the situation in the Middle East, on the basis of the mission report of the visit carried out in February by a delegation led by Hans-Gert Pöttering. It adopted a resolution text which will be put to the plenary and which highlights shortcomings in international and humanitarian law, observed during the invasion of the Gaza Strip.
The debate was an impassioned one, particularly on the part of Majali Whbee, member of the Knesset, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in the outgoing Israeli government and Deputy President of the political committee of the EMPA. He accused Luisa Morgantini (GUE, Italy) of being an "enemy of peace", and spoke out against accusations made by the MEP and by other members of the committee. Infuriated, he left the room, saying: "I have been a member of the EMPA since its creation and you are persecuting Israel. I resign and I will recommend that the forthcoming Knesset leaves EuroMed". After this gesture of ill-humour, the Israeli parliamentarian returned to Monday afternoon's session. He explained that he was resigning his deputy presidency but would remain a member of the Assembly, and that if there were no changes in the attitude of the Europeans, he would indeed advise the Knesset to suspend its participation in the EMPA. In the wake of this declaration by Mr Whbee, who is to be replaced due to the forthcoming change of Knesset, the question of Israel's involvement or representation by a member of a party which does not recognise the two-state solution supported by the EU is now to be faced. (F.B./O.J./transl.fl)