Mr President, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner Patten, the nightmare in the Middle East seems never to end. Like everyone else, my group feels extremely frustrated and powerless at our not being able to do more to solve this bloody conflict that is the cause of so much suffering. In the last few days, we have been talking a lot about terrorism and, clearly, nothing would mean more in the fight against terrorism than peace in the Middle East. The situation there is the source of huge frustration and fanaticism, and it inculcates into young people a feeling of hopelessness and despair that creates a breeding ground for recruiting suicide bombers who are themselves also very young. Two states – recognised by one another, democratic and existing side by side – would naturally have an enormously positive effect on stability throughout the region. Plans, projects, conferences and new initiatives – it feels as though we have tried everything. There is no lack of creativity when it comes to the Middle East. We need no more initiatives. We need political will, a desire really to sit down, negotiate and achieve peace. Unfortunately, there is nothing to suggest that today’s leaders, whether in Israel or Palestine, have this will. The Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party condemns the murder of Sheik Yassin. It was contrary to international law. Assassination may appear logical from a military point of view, but it is the worst of diplomatic means. Yassin had odious crimes on his conscience. He has never recognised Israel’s right to exist. In all respects, he was a loathsome terrorist. Nonetheless, we cannot accept this type of killing. It must be possible to make higher demands of a democratic state such as Israel. Hamas has now been given a new martyr and thousands of people burning with the desire for revenge. The Palestinian leadership must therefore show unprecedented strength and leadership in order to prevent a new spiral of violence. Arafat must emphasise that it is not Hamas that is setting the agenda. The Group cannot be too emphatic in its condemnation of the suicide bombers. This senseless killing of civilians, innocent children, women and men is paralysing the Israeli people and making the slightest errand or social excursion fraught with mortal danger. The fact that ever younger teenagers and children are now being recruited as suicide bombers is the most repellent form of terrorism of all and can never ever be explained or excused. Israel and Palestine must return to the negotiating table and to the Quartet’s Road Map. I wish to thank the President-in-Office of the Council and Commissioner Patten for their work to bring this about. We must obtain an end to the violence, and the Palestinian Authority must once and for all recognise Israel’s right to exist. For its part, Israel must stop building the Security Wall, which is condemned by the whole world. Walls can never be the solution. The previously promised and announced withdrawal from Gaza must also begin. Peace in the Middle East and a peaceful Iraq in which I hope that the UN can be given a greater role would be very great progress and would have huge significance for the process of reform throughout the region. If, in the way that has been sketched out in the proposal now adopted, we succeed in incorporating these countries into a close and extensive network of trade and cooperation, it would constitute huge progress for the EU. The collapse of the Arab League summit is tragic, but there is yet hope that reference will still be made to human rights and democracy, which are the places from which we have to begin. Finally, Mr President, I just want to raise another issue about which the Group feels uneasy, and that is the riots in Syria in which hundreds of Kurds have recently been killed. Many are imprisoned, and there are reports of members of this group being tortured following riots a week ago. I hope that the Council and the Commission can step up the pressure on Syria to put a stop to this killing.

Political group: ELDR