Brussels, 30/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European parliamentary delegation for relations with the Palestinian legislative council organised a “workshop” in Brussels on Wednesday 29 April under the chairmanship of Luisa Morgantini (GUE, Italy) on the theme of how to “break the vicious circle” when it comes to the impossible settlement of the Palestinian issue. Speakers included MEPs Véronique de Keyser (PES, Belgium), Annemie Neyts (ALDE, Belgium), Richard Howitt (PES, UK), as well as guest speakers including Egyptian Chargé d'Affaires Badr Abdellaty, UNRWA Director John Ging, former French Ambassador Yves Aubin de La Messuzière, the Palestinian lawyer who is director of the human rights centre in Gaza, Raja Sourani, and Leonidas Tezapsidis on behalf of the European Commission.
In essence, the debate brought out the fact that the EU must maintain its presence on the ground and in dealing with the issue when all eyes are turned towards Washington for initiatives that President Obama is said to have the intention of taking. It would appear from various speeches that the situation is tense and that Israel is far from shouldering its responsibilities. The opinion, shared by all present, is that international law must apply to what has taken place since the end of 2008.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Mr Tezapsidis gave a picture of the situation highlighting how very difficult and tricky the task is when it comes to intervening on the ground and in a political context that has become “confused”, especially since the end of 2008. “On the ground, the situation is extremely complex. It is almost too late to act”, the UNRWA director said. The European Commission “is focusing its efforts on building Palestinian institutions”, Mr Tezapsidis explained, adding: “The prospect of peace seems increasingly distant but we have no choice but to be optimistic”. He also said the EU is seeking to send out a “powerful message, including on the opening up of the crossing points”. He rejected the argument that the EU has no means of putting pressure on Israel. “We do have ways to put pressure on Israel in so far as we have strong links with this country. We are not going to freeze our relations but to clearly express our point of view to Israel and say that we support the Arab peace initiative”, he said. The Egyptian chargé d'affaires defended his country's point of view on restrictions at the Rafah border crossing, which is slightly open but restricted. This, he maintained, was so that “Israel would not be relieved of its responsibilities as an occupying power”. He mainly expressed his country's strong concern about the growing tension and hatred. “What we hear” from the new Israeli government “is alarming”, said Mr Abdellaty. Mr Sourani, representing Amnesty International, raised various legal aspects that highlight Israel's resolve to block the peace process.
The essential question remains linked to the nature of EU relations with Israel and to the risk that they will not help to dissuade the newly elected Israeli government from taking a road that is counter to peace. In a message to Mr Solana, Ms Morgantini said: “We must ensure law is upheld and keep our commitments, namely by not strengthening links with Israel” as long as it continues in its current policy. She went on to add: “Impunity is over. No country should be above the law”. Ms De Keyser felt that the Council's attitude was “unrealistic” and said the EU should present Israel with the bill for all the damage that it has caused. She spoke of the Parliament's active involvement, establishing a specific working group on the Middle East for constant monitoring of the situation. Ms Neyts, who is a member of this working group, supports Ms De Keyser's point of view and expresses surprise at the “upgrading” of relations with Israel. She said the EU Council was acting “as though Parliament had said nothing on the subject”. Ambassador de La Messuzière regretted the fact that “Europeans have closed themselves into a dogma” which prevents them from making useful contacts in the region, mainly with Hamas, when this movement has “undergone mutation” since it has had to manage the practicalities of everyday life in the Gaza territory. (F.B./transl.jl)