A delegation of S&D MEPs visited Israel and Palestine from
24th to 28th March in a fact-finding mission. The programme of
the visit included meetings with sister parties, government and
civil society representatives on both sides, as well as field
visits in Hebron, Susiya and Umm al-Hiran. The delegation
included: S&D Group Vice-President and chair of the
delegation MEP Elena Valenciano (ES), and MEPs Maria Arena (BE),
Eugen Freund (AT), Linda McAvan (UK), Norbert Neuser (DE), and
Soraya Post (SE). At the end of their visit, they made the
following statement:
“We reiterate our call for the two-state solution between
Israelis and Palestinians as the only way to secure a future in
justice, peace and freedom for both people.
Preserving the viability of the two-state solution must be an
immediate priority for the European Union and the international
community. The resumption of peace talks requires a multilateral
international initiative and framework. The recognition of the
state of Palestine, including by all EU member states, should
contribute to these efforts.
The legitimate security concerns of Israel have to be respected
and answered, but the strengthening of nationalist and religious
right-wing parties in the country gives no valid answer to these
concerns. Israel cannot achieve peace and security through
occupation, the geographic fragmentation of the West Bank, the
segregation of its Arab citizens, and the mistreatment of
minorities, such as Bedouin families despite the efforts of the
relevant Israeli authority over the past years. The human rights
violations we witnessed in Hebron and the stories of families we
heard in the villages of Susiya and Umm al-Hiran cannot be
justified by security needs. The detention of more than 350
Palestinian minors in Israeli prisons is unacceptable.
It was also with regret that we heard about the deadlock in
intra-Palestinian reconciliation. Palestinian unity is essential
for restoring democratic mechanisms and for resuming the peace
process. The Palestinian Authority must return to the Gaza Strip,
while the blockade of Gaza must come to an end. The collective
punishment of the population in this open-air prison cannot be
tolerated.
Against the backdrop of despair, we have also seen signs of hope.
We met Israeli civil society organisations that strongly
criticise government policies, Palestinian civil society
representatives challenging the Palestinian leadership, and
organisations in which Israelis and Palestinians work together
for peace and reconciliation. During our visit in Am'ari refugee
camp and its Girls' School, we witnessed again the importance of
the work done by UNRWA, in particular with regard to access of
children to education.
At the end of our visit, we reiterate our call for an end to
Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law. We
encourage the European Union and the international community to
support civil society organisations on both sides that work for
peace, as well as UNRWA. The European Union must fully implement
its existing political positions and legislation towards Israel
and the Palestinian Authority, including the policy of
differentiation between the territory of the state of Israel and
the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. We must also play
a genuine political role in the peace process.
