P6_TA(2006)0237

Crisis in the Palestinian territories

European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories and the role of the EU

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, in particular those of 23 October 2003 on peace and dignity in the Middle East [1], 27 January 2005 on the situation in the Middle East [2] and 2 February 2006 on the result of the Palestinian elections and the situation in East Jerusalem [3],

- having regard to the report of the EU Election Observation Mission to Palestine and to the report of Parliament's election observers,

- having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions Nos 242, 338, 1373 and 1397,

- having regard to the Quartet's "Roadmap for Peace" of 30 April 2003,

- having regard to the results of the national elections in Israel held on 28 March 2006,

- having regard to the statement of the Quartet Principals made on 9 May 2006 in New York,

- having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 15 May 2006 on the Middle East peace process,

- having regard to the Neighbourhood Agreements between the EU and Israel and the EU and Palestine,

- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas after the elections in Palestine and Israel the time has come to secure a new basis for a diplomatic and political initiative of the European Union and the Quartet (the EU, the US, Russia and the UN) which must pursue ambitious goals in order to relaunch negotiations and a process for a stable and viable peace solution,

B. whereas the serious deterioration of the humanitarian and social situation in both Gaza and the West Bank must be faced urgently in order to avoid chaos and further political instability,

C. whereas the elections in Palestine, held in conformity with international standards, have led to the setting-up of a government which is composed of members of the "Change and Reform" list drawn up by Hamas, and whereas the international community is now confronted with the need to respect the democratic results of the elections,

D. whereas the decision of Hamas to participate in the elections and its success will confer on it the responsibility to comply with the previous agreements signed by the Palestinians, which include the rejection of terrorism and the recognition of Israel's right to exist, as demanded by the international community,

E. whereas on 9 May 2006 the Quartet reiterated its support for assistance to help meet the basic human needs of the Palestinian people, and expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration and ensures direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinians; whereas the EU has been given the task of developing and proposing such a mechanism,

F. whereas the EU is working urgently to develop this mechanism, which as a matter of priority will be aimed at contributing to meeting basic needs and includes consultation of international financial institutions and other key partners, and invites other donors to actively join in the effort to establish this mechanism as soon as possible,

G. whereas the new Israeli government has presented guidelines which include a commitment for negotiations with the Palestinians but do not exclude unilateral measures for the implementation of the "convergence plan" with the aim of fixing the final borders,

H. whereas Israel should be reminded of its obligations regarding the Oslo Agreements concerning the borders of 1967, the settlements and East Jerusalem, and should be aware of the present grave situation,

1. Expresses its serious concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian, economic and financial situation in the West Bank and Gaza;

2. Calls on the Council and Commission to strengthen their initiatives by taking account of the following recommendations:

- to act within the Quartet with the aim of urgently guaranteeing the flow of aid essential to the Palestinians through humanitarian agencies and NGOs and implementing the above mentioned temporary international mechanism, as proposed by the Quartet, to guarantee direct aid to the Palestinian people, which should be funnelled by the World Bank or other international bodies,

- to invite the governments of the US and the other donor countries to ensure a broad and flexible scope for this mechanism, to facilitate it by the direct involvement of the President of the Palestinian Authority and to ensure financial control and accountability of expenditure,

- to develop such a mechanism in order to avoid a major humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories; in this regard, calls on all the institutions involved in establishing such a temporary international financial mechanism to be as transparent as possible in order to prevent any fraud or misuse of funds,

- to call on the Israeli government immediately to resume the direct transfer of the withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues which have been blocked since January 2006; notes that part of these funds have been transferred for payment of electricity supplies in compliance with the 1994 Paris Protocol,

- to reinvigorate the institution-building process in Palestine, which has seen an important moment in the recent elections,

- to continue with the EU presence in Rafah and the implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access,

- to make a comprehensive assessment of the situation together with the High Representative for CFSP so as to guarantee coherence in both aid measures and political and diplomatic initiatives in order to conduct a dialogue with the Palestinian Authority through its President,

- to ensure that all future assistance will be reviewed in the light of the Palestinian government's respect for these principles,

- to take full advantage of the Action Plan with the Palestinian Authority within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy; the Commission, for its part, will have to guarantee the full implementation of the EU-Israel Action Plan as far as Israel's obligations towards the Palestinian Authority are concerned;

3. Welcomes the statement of the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, at Parliament's plenary session of 16 May 2006 and calls on the Council and Commission to continue to support the President in his efforts to talk with Israel, the Palestinian government and the international community;

4. Supports the Palestinian President's initiative to promote national dialogue and hopes that the proposals will be accepted by all parties; considers that the President is mandated to conduct negotiations and to take responsibility for the management of international aid;

5. Considers that any contact with the newly appointed Palestinian government should aim to achieve recognition of a final peace agreement based on a solution involving two viable states and the renunciation of violence by the government itself and the groups supporting it; believes the government's clarification regarding denouncing violence and recognition of Israel's right to exist and the Palestinians' international obligations to be crucial for any cooperation by the EU with it;

6. Declares once again, at this particular stage, that a solution to the Middle East conflict is only possible through the negotiation of a firm and final peace agreement as set out in the Roadmap, without prior conditions and based on the existence of two democratic, sovereign and viable states living peacefully side by side within secure and recognised borders;

7. Welcomes the first meeting since the Israeli elections between the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tsipi Livni, held on 20 May 2006 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, which constitutes an encouraging sign paving the way for the planned meeting between Mr Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert; hopes that these contacts will eventually lead to the resumption of peace negotiations, pushing forward the long-stalled peace process;

8. Points out that there is no alternative to bilateral negotiations and that unilateral actions could undermine efforts to reach a lasting and comprehensive settlement;

9. Reiterates its condemnation of, and calls for an immediate halt to, the continuing extension of settlements, in particular in East Jerusalem, and the building of the wall beyond the 1967 borders, which is contrary to international law and is an obstacle to the restoration of a climate of dialogue;

10. Calls on all parties concerned to fully implement the Roadmap and calls on the Quartet to encourage negotiations for a fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Middle East, leading to a firm and final peace agreement as laid out in the Roadmap;

11. Supports the constructive attitude of the Commission and Council within the Quartet in setting the conditions for a future engagement with the Palestinian Authority;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative for CFSP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Israeli Knesset and government, the governments of the US and the Russian Federation and the UN Secretary-General.

[1] OJ C 82 E, 1.4.2004, p. 610.

[2] OJ C 253 E, 13.10.2005, p. 35.

[3] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0041.

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