# CE2004078EN.01077001.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/770 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/770

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(2004/C 78 E/0820)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2960/03

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(8 October 2003)

Subject:   Middle East peace process

Subject:

The recent resignation of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Mr Abu Mazen, has made it clear that the obstacles to a genuine peace process in the Middle East remain as severe as ever. There is no doubt that the PNAs actions are strongly influenced by the pressures and actions of the extreme fundamentalist groups, but it is also the case that Israel has not changed its policy.

The ‘targeted killings’ continue, aimed at alleged authors of terrorist acts — accused of such crimes only by the Israeli government — without recorded investigations or proper trials. The construction continues of the wall intended to cut off the occupied territories from the rest of the country.

In the light of this blockage of the implementation of the ‘road map’, can the Council answer the following questions:

| 1. | What is its position on the ‘targeted killings’? |
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1.

What is its position on the ‘targeted killings’?

| 2. | Does it not consider such acts to be incompatible with the existing legal systems in the majority of the Union's Member States? |
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2.

Does it not consider such acts to be incompatible with the existing legal systems in the majority of the Union's Member States?

| 3. | Should it not issue a declaration stating that no-one, and even less so a government, has the right to dictate or execute death sentences without any kind of trial? |
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3.

Should it not issue a declaration stating that no-one, and even less so a government, has the right to dictate or execute death sentences without any kind of trial?

| 4. | What action will it take to urge the Israeli government to put an end to such practices? |
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4.

What action will it take to urge the Israeli government to put an end to such practices?

| 5. | Does it intend to denounce these crimes under the EU/Israel agreements? |
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5.

Does it intend to denounce these crimes under the EU/Israel agreements?

| 6. | What action will the Council take should the Israeli government refuse to put an end to these practices? |
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6.

What action will the Council take should the Israeli government refuse to put an end to these practices?

Reply

(4 March 2004)

(4 March 2004)

Like the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Council is of the view that the resignation of PM Abu Mazen has highlighted that serious obstacles to the Middle East Peace Process remain and that Israelis and Palestinians have not yet done enough for the serious implementation of the road map.

On the other points, the European Council on 16/17 October 2003 has taken a clear position:

| — | it calls on Israel to abstain from any punitive measures which are not in accordance with international law, including extra-judicial killings; |
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it calls on Israel to abstain from any punitive measures which are not in accordance with international law, including extra-judicial killings;

| — | the European Council was also particularly concerned about the route marked out for the so-called security fence in the Occupied West Bank. The envisaged departure of the route from the ‘green line’ could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement. It would cause further humanitarian and economic hardship to the Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians west of the fence are being cut off from essential services in the West Bank, Palestinians east of the fence will lose access to land and water resources; |
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the European Council was also particularly concerned about the route marked out for the so-called security fence in the Occupied West Bank. The envisaged departure of the route from the ‘green line’ could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement. It would cause further humanitarian and economic hardship to the Palestinians. Thousands of Palestinians west of the fence are being cut off from essential services in the West Bank, Palestinians east of the fence will lose access to land and water resources;

| — | the EU regularly raises these issues with Israel, in particular on the occasion of the EU-Israel Association Council (see 18 November 2003) which offers a good opportunity to convey firm messages to the Government of Israel in this respect; |
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the EU regularly raises these issues with Israel, in particular on the occasion of the EU-Israel Association Council (see 18 November 2003) which offers a good opportunity to convey firm messages to the Government of Israel in this respect;

| — | the European Council has urged all sides in the region to immediately implement policies conducive to dialogue and negotiations. |
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the European Council has urged all sides in the region to immediately implement policies conducive to dialogue and negotiations.

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