The meeting took place in the context of a deteriorating situation in the Middle East, centred on the continuing violent conflict affecting the Palestinian and Israeli people and principally the Palestinians. This conflict has already claimed more than 500 lives since September last year. Thousands more have been injured. Enormous damage has been caused to property.
Thousands are unemployed, with large numbers thrown deeper into poverty.
In addition to this continuing tragedy, we are all faced with the crisis that the process of negotiations between Palestine and Israel has become seriously compromised, with virtually no movement taking place. This has further postponed the historic outcome that the people of Palestine seek, of the birth of an independent state of Palestine and the whole range of matters that must still be addressed to bring about this result. Similarly, tension has risen throughout the Middle East, raising new concerns about the security of all the countries of the region, including the State of Israel. Needless to say, this situation also has the effect of postponing the resolution of other important outstanding questions, such as the conclusion of a peace agreement between Israel and Syria. It is clear that to bring the negotiating process back on track, the issue of the continuing violence affecting the Palestinian territories and Israel has to be addressed as a matter of the greatest urgency.