PRESS RELEASE
BY
LUISA MORGANTINI
Vice President of the European Parliament

IN OCCASION OF THE EU-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,

Rome 13th June 2008

“We strongly feel that without serious signs of good faith translated into tangible improvements on the ground, the time is not yet right to upgrade EU-Israel relations“ was the final statement by a 14 MEPs ad hoc delegation, belonging to different political groups. The ad hoc delegation visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 31 May to 2 June. The delegation witnessed the wall, checkpoints, the expansion of the Israeli settlements on Occupied Territories and the siege in Gaza.

“This is not to punish Israel, but to be coherent with our rules - firstly with the respect of human rights that are fundamental in all association agreements between European Union and third countries. Human rights that continue to be systematically violated by the ongoing Israeli policies towards the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian Territory“ added Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, who was also part of the ad hoc delegation.

Regarding the EU-Israel Association Council meeting, scheduled to take place on Monday 16th June, within the margins of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luisa Morgantini reinforced the same reservations expressed by the delegation. “Urgent actions to counteract eroding confidence in the Palestinian- Israeli process are needed, “ expressed MEP Morgantini.

The ad hoc delegation to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory, was co-chaired by Mrs Veronique DE KEYSER and Mrs Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK, and included fourteen MEPs belonging to different political groups. Attached below, is the official statement released by the delegation during a press conference in Jerusalem on 2nd June 2008.

Further info Luisa Morgantini 0039 348 39 21 465 or Rome Office 0039 06 69 95 02 17

Luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu

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PRESS RELEASE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION URGES ACTION TO COUNTERACT ERODING CONFIDENCE IN THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROCESS

Improvement on the ground is crucial

Jerusalem, 2 June 2008

A European Parliament delegation visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 31 May to 2 June with the aim of assessing the situation on the ground as regards developments since Annapolis.

“We have observed encouraging improvements in the security situation in the West Bank municipalities with Palestinians being able to take on their responsibilities.

Nevertheless, Israeli incursions and other restrictions undermine the authority and ability of Palestinian police and security forces to function.

We further witnessed the beginnings of Palestinian economic recovery with greater commerce, trade and tourism in some West Bank areas.

However in order for these economic and security improvements to be consolidated, the movement of people and access of goods needs to be ensured.

Palestinian compliance in this field is not enough; a change in Israel’s policies is required.

The existing policy of roadblocks and the impact of the route of the “separation barrier“ seriously hamper on-going efforts, strongly backed by the European Union, to achieve economic recovery.

We have observed considerable and continuous expansion of settlements which is illegal, and incompatible with the objectives laid out in Annapolis and with the Road Map, making a two-state solution impossible.

In particular, we are worried over the future of East Jerusalem, the “E1“ settlement project and the situation in the old city of Hebron.

In the Gaza Strip the revolting consequences of the ongoing sanctions and blockade policy were all too evident.

Dramatic overall shortages - in particular, medical supplies, food and fuel - result in unacceptable human misery, which, in turn, will generate future violence.

We were positively struck by the mobilisation of the civil society, as well as the activities of UNRWA, who try to counterbalance the effect of the siege.

Their efforts need immediate increased support from the international community.

On behalf of the European Parliament, we reiterate our pressing call to put an end to the geographical and political isolation of the Gaza Strip and to reconnect it to the rest of the world.

We call on the Quartet, and its representative Mr Blair, and on the Palestinian Authority institutions to re-engage on the ground and to collaborate with the Gazans. The only identified project of a sewage plant in the context of the Quartet’s quick impact projects must be urgently implemented. We condemn the launching of rockets on the neighbouring State of Israel and consider it as totally counterproductive with respect to the willingness for peace that is the desire of a great majority of Gazans.

All the above points were raised during discussions between the delegation and members of the Knesset. Finally, we strongly feel that without serious signs of good faith translated into tangible improvements on the ground, the time is not yet right to upgrade EU-Israel relations. “

The delegation comprised fourteen MEPs and co-chaired by Mrs Veronique DE KEYSER and Mrs Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK. Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, also participated to the MEPs delegation.