WRITTEN QUESTION E-1297/02 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), John Bowis (PPE-DE),Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE), Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE),James Nicholson (PPE-DE), Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE), Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE)and Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The future of the Samaritan community in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Date: 2002-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Israel, Middle East, Palestine, company constituted under civil law, establishment of peace, peace zone, regional cooperation, religious group, war

C 28 E/94

Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2003

The provisions of the Military Order allow:

(cid:1) discrimination against foreign nationals in violation of international law, which prohibits discrimi-

nation based on nationality,

(cid:1) minimum standards of evidence, not expressly excluding the extraction of statements by torture,

(cid:1) no right of appeal to an independent and impartial court established by law,

(cid:1) no independence of the military commissions from the executive, etc.

Will the Commission exert pressure on the US Administration to rescind the Military Order and honour its
international commitments concerning respect for human rights?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2002)

The Commission will closely observe the conduct of any trials before the special military commissions
established by the United States under the Military Order signed by President Bush on 13 November 2001.
Where appropriate, the Commission will use the existing framework for translatlantic cooperation to
register any concerns that might arise with its American counterparts.

The Union also maintains a regular dialogue with the United States in the field of human rights and will
continue to draw on relevant policy instruments in this context such as the Guidelines to Union policy
towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

On 14 May 2002 the Union expressed its disappointment and regret at the United States decision not to
the
ratify the Rome Statute of
International Criminal Court would be the appropriate forum in which to try these cases.

the International Criminal Court. The Commission’s view is that

(2003/C 28 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1297/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), John Bowis (PPE-DE),
Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE), Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE),
James Nicholson (PPE-DE), Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE), Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE)
and Rainer Wieland (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: The future of the Samaritan community in Israel and the Occupied Territories

The small surviving community of Samaritans based in Holon, Israel and in Kiryat Luza, the Samaritan
quarter on Mount Gerizim under the administration of the Palestinian Authority, has recovered from near
extinction at the beginning of the last century to number approximately six hundred and fifty at present.

The community maintains the complete heritage of its people’s traditional and cultural life; they speak
ancient Hebrew and use the ancient Hebrew script and help to preserve a thousands-of-years-old historical
and cultural tradition. They have also worked tirelessly to maintain good and constructive relationships
with both their Israeli and Palestinian neighbours. Both Israel and the Palestinians have on more than one
occasion expressed their commitment to safeguarding the welfare of the Samaritans, with the Palestinians
having declared that they consider the Samaritans as an inseparable part of the Palestinian Entity.

Sadly, the life and economic viability of the community in Kiryat Luza has been severely disrupted in
recent months following the upsurge of violence in the region, due to the decision of the Israeli
government for security reasons to prevent access to the Samaritan’s only Holy Centre on Mount Gerizim

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Official Journal of the European Union

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to Israelis, Palestinians and foreign tourists. The Samaritans themselves have been fired at on several
occasions when travelling to Mount Gerizim and passage takes place in conditions of partial security.

It is the intention of the Samaritans to establish Mount Gerazim as a ‘Zone of Peace’ which can serve as a
much-needed model for good intercommunal relations in the region, an idea which has received warm
support from the UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ben Bradshaw. This,
however, would involve the purchase of land (senior representatives of the Palestinian authority have
apparently said that they would not prevent
the
development of access roads and the building of a Peace Centre. Money is also needed to build a sewage
system and a medical centre. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has so far felt it necessary to reject
all of the Samaritan applications for regional development on the grounds that it is short of funds, whilst
appeals to Israel have met with a strictly limited response.

local Arabs from selling land to the Samaritans),

Does the Commission support the proposal for a ‘Zone of Peace’ and will it consider providing direct
assistance to the Samaritans if only to help ensure the survival of this beleaguered community?

Will it also discuss with Israel the unblocking of the roadblock to Mount Gerizim?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2002)

The Commission fully recognises that civil society activities are important and effective means for
promoting dialogue and co-operation at the regional level in the Middle East and elsewhere. In particular
the Commission’s view is that the traditions of culture and civilisation throughout the Mediterranean
region, and dialogue and respect between cultures and religions are necessary pre-conditions for bringing
the peoples closer to each other. Civil society activities are considered as particularly useful tools in the
context of the Middle East peace process.

In order to continue its support to civil society in the Middle East acting in support of peace, the
Commission decided to set up the ‘EU Partnership for Peace’ programme. A call for proposals will be
issued shortly. Within the framework and conditions of this call for proposals the Samaritan community
may apply for support.

Regarding access to Mount Gerizim the Commission would like to note that in meetings with Israeli
officials, the Commission has always maintained that a policy of roadblocks and checkpoints is harmful for
the development of the economy and counterproductive in the search for peace in the Middle East.

(2003/C 28 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1300/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2002)

Subject: US National Missile Defence Programme

Have any consultations been held between the Commission and the Member States on the US National
Missile Defence Programme, with a view to adopting an EU position? If not, are there any plans to
schedule discussions on this matter?