WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2415/96 by Leen van der WAAL to the Council. Possible visit by the EU troika to Orient House in Jerusalem
Date: 1996-09-05
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN DER WAAL
Subjects: European Union, Israel, Palestine question, UN Security Council, international negotiations, peacekeeping, status of Jerusalem, the EU's international role













EUR-Lex - 91996E2415 - EN






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91996E2415

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2415/96 by Leen van der WAAL to the Council. Possible visit by the EU troika to Orient House in Jerusalem  


Official Journal C 072 , 07/03/1997 P. 0039 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2415/96 by Leen van der Waal (I-EDN) to the Council (5 September 1996)Subject: Possible visit by the EU troika to Orient House in Jerusalem1. Press reports lead us to understand that the EU troika intends to visit the Middle East in September possibly including a visit to the Palestinian representation at Orient House in Jerusalem. Is the Council able to confirm the accuracy of these reports?2. According to the reports, the Israeli Government strongly objects to this and has hinted that it will not receive foreign representatives who call there. Is this correct?3. Does the Council think it desirable, in view of the continuing sensitivity of visits to Orient House and the care called for by the peace process, to stand by its decision to refrain from visiting Orient House until after this year's Israeli elections?4. Do the Israeli objections justify meeting the Palestinian representatives during the Middle East visit at a location in the autonomous Palestinian territories?Answer (16 December 1996)As part of the process of dialogue with all parties to the Middle East Peace Process, and in accordance with the decision of the special meeting of the European Council in Dublin on 5 October, the President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers, Mr Spring, visited the region on 6-7 October to convey messages to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Arafat.In meetings with both leaders, Mr Spring stressed the importance attached by the EU to the urgent revitalisation of the Peace Process and emphasised the Union's intention to make an enhanced commitment to the search for progress in the Middle East commensurate with its economic contribution and involvement in the Peace Process so far. The meeting with Mr Netanyahu was friendly and constructive and the Prime Minister clearly indicated his appreciation of the efforts of the Union in support of the Peace Process.EU Policy on the status of Jerusalem is based on the view that East Jerusalem is under military occupation and is thus subject to the principles set out in Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 242, notably the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and other UNSCRFs pertinent to Jerusalem.As an expression of this policy EU representatives have had a long standing practice of making calls on Orient House in Jerusalem. When they do so they respect the undertstanding between the parties that there should be no discussion of Palestinian Authority matters in Orient House.Meetings with the Palestinian Authority take place in Gaza, the West-Bank or in Europe as appropriate.Although Mr Spring did not visit Orient-House on this occasion, the Union has made it clear that this decision should not be seen as establishing a precedent and was completely without prejudice to the future application of the Union's policy on visits to Orient-House.