Brussels, 15/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU has outlined its opinion on the “Report on the exploratory EU mission into the Gaza conflict”, the renowned Goldstone report (name of the South African judge, who is currently creating a number of controversies). At the beginning of October, when the report was published, the EU said that it had taken the document into consideration and was still examining its contents. This report claims that Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement may have committed serious violations of international law during the Gaza conflict (27 December 2008 to 17 January 2009). The report recommended holding an enquiry into the acts committed, which "resemble war crimes", indeed "crimes against humanity" during the Israeli offensive. Those looking into the matter also recommend that, in the absence of an enquiry, the case be referred to the International Criminal Court.
On 14 October, Sweden's permanent representative to the EU, Anders Lidén, declared that the EU was taking the contents of the report "seriously” and proposes to "evaluate the allegations involving serious violations of international humanitarian law”. For the time being, it is keen to illustrate its different positions on what happened in Gaza and advocates a “sustainable” solution in the Gaza Strip where the humanitarian situation is “seriously worrying”. The EU is reiterating its demand for obstacles to the movement of humanitarian aid, goods and persons to and from Gaza to be lifted "immediately" to help facilitate reconstruction and the return to normality in this territory, which was practically destroyed in the war at the end of last year. The EU formally takes note of Israel's commitment to take action on this matter but it wants to see these words translated into deeds. The 2005 agreement on the freedom of movement must be applied in full.
This tardy response highlights the difficulties experienced by the EU and other actors in the Middle East conflict, including Palestinian bodies and factions. President Mahmoud Abbas is clearly in trouble in the domestic arena and was obliged to withdraw his initial demand to suspend examination of this report so as not to compromise the possible resumption of talks with Israel. This week, he managed to obtain a draft resolution supported by Arab countries (Muslim and non-aligned), backing the recommendations of the Goldstone report, which calls on the different parties involved (including UN bodies), to "ensure their immediate application, in agreement with their respective mandates". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on "all the parties to carry out, without delay, credible enquiries into how the conflict was conducted". In Geneva, the Council for Human Rights organised a special session on Thursday 15 October to further examine the report's allegations, which have totally been rejected by Israel and subject to a US veto in an effort to block any resolution deemed unwelcome.
Addressing the Security Council on 14 October, the Swedish Ambassador pointed out, on behalf of the EU, the common position advocating resumption of the peace process. He asserted that “developments noted during the course of the year demonstrate that we must urgently take action to relaunch the peace process”. The EU has appealed to the Palestinian and Israeli governments to rapidly engage in negotiations in respect of international law and previous agreements made between the two parties, including implementation of the roadmap. He pointed out that the preferred EU option seeks a “political solution in support of creating an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state” in return for guarantees for Israel's security. The EU considers that the efforts made in this direction by Washington are welcome. It is also stated that it was willing to work with the US and within the Quartet and Arab countries to attain these objectives. The Israeli initiative announced by the Israeli prime minister towards the creation of a Palestinian state (Ed: demilitarised and with limited sovereignty) is noted by the EU with interest and considered to be a first step.
The EU, nonetheless, is “deeply concerned” by the destruction of houses and expulsions from the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, and above all the “creation of settlements, which is illegal under international law and creates an obstacle to peace”. The Israeli government is urged to put an immediate stop to this, including the “natural expansion” of the settlements and removal of outposts erected since March 2001. The EU affirms that it will “not recognise any changes to the borders since 1967”, except those made between the two parties. It is also keen to point out that it is against any provocation by way of statements on the recent incidents, particularly those involving the Al Aqsa/Temple of the Mount in Jerusalem, which still creates fears of an Intifada III breaking out.
The EU also expressed a wish for inter-Palestinian reconciliation and urges Arab countries to financially support the Palestinians. Both Arabs and Israelis are called on to develop measures to restore trust and Syria, in particular, is being encouraged to negotiate peace terms with Israel and the Lebanon, in an attempt to break with the past. (F.B./transl.rh)