ei: European Parliament calls for suspending trade agreement (10 April 2002)

European Parliament, adopted texts - 10 April 2002

Situation in the Middle East

European Parliament resolution on the Middle East
The European Parliament,

– having regard to its recommendation to the Council of 13 December 2001 on the crisis in the Middle East and the role of the European Union in the region1, its resolution of 7 February 2002 on the Middle East and its resolution2 of 20 March 2002 on the outcome of the European Council of 15-16 March 2002 in Barcelona3,

A. profoundly shocked by the escalating human tragedy experienced by the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,

B. convinced that only a return to the negotiating table will restore the prospect of two States, Israel and Palestine, existing alongside each other in peace and security,

C. greatly worried by the clashes taking place at the border with Lebanon, which could spill over to the whole region,

D. whereas a continuation of the Middle East conflict represents a source of growing tension in the Arab countries and will lead to a worsening of the international political and economic situation,

1 . Supports the UN Security Council’s Resolutions 1397, 1402 and 1403, which call for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Palestinian territories, including Ramallah; calls for their full and immediate implementation and the cessation of all violence;

2. Strongly condemns all indiscriminate terrorist attacks by suicide bombings against Israel perpetrated by Palestinian extremists; calls on the Palestinian Authority to make greater efforts to prevent acts of terrorism;

3. Condemns the military escalation pursued by the Sharon government, which violates international and humanitarian law and will provide no effective solution to the terrorist attacks, and condemns the oppression of the Palestinian civilian population by the Israeli army and the systematic destruction of infrastructures on the West Bank;

4. Makes clear to the Israeli Government that Mr Arafat, the democratically elected President of the PNA, must enjoy freedom of movement, and finds unacceptable his de facto house arrest;

5. Condemns the refusal by Prime Minister Sharon to let the EU high-level delegation meet President Arafat, and believes that the Israeli Government should take advantage of the genuine European efforts to find a solution to the crisis, including the terrorism issue; considers the offensive treatment of the EU delegation to be a turning point in EU-Israel relations;

6. Stresses the importance of the meeting in Madrid between the EU, the United States, Russia and the UN Secretary-General to discuss the current situation, and welcomes the Council Presidency's initiative; calls for consideration to be given to the sending of an international buffer and monitoring force to the region under UN auspices; calls on the Member States to make an immediate start on preparing their contribution to that force;

7. Calls on the Council to institute an arms embargo on Israel and Palestine;

8. Calls on the Council and the Commission urgently to convene the EU-Israel Association Council in order to put its position to the Israeli Government, asking it to comply with the latest UN resolutions and make a positive response to the current efforts undertaken by the EU to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict; calls on the Commission and Council, in this framework, to suspend the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement;

9. Stresses the special responsibility of the USA in the crisis, mainly due to its influence on Israeli policy, and supports the decision to send a high-level US delegation to the region with the aim of bringing about a resumption of talks between the two parties and putting an end to the violence;

10. Welcomes the endorsement by the Arab League of the Saudi proposal which should constitute a basis for discussions seeking a lasting peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, and invites the Israeli Government to recognise this turning point in the Arab states' attitude towards the conflict;

11. Strongly condemns recent acts of anti-Semitism committed in Europe, such as those against Jewish synagogues, schools and cemeteries;

12. Expresses its full support for those Israelis, Palestinians and international organisations working for peace at every possible level, including the Israeli reservists refusing to serve in the Occupied Territories, and especially expresses its sympathy and support for the Israeli-Palestinian coalitions for peace;

13. Calls on Israel to guarantee the media free access to the Occupied Territories and to allow EU diplomatic and consular authorities to contact EU citizens in the area;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Israel, the President of the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council, the UN Secretary-General, the US President and Congress and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.