New settlements will undermine confidence in Israel commitment to mid-east peace
Issued : Sunday 14 March, 2010
Statement by Proinsias De Rossa
Speaking at the plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) in Jordan this weekend, Proinsias De Rossa MEP, chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council, said Israel's announcement of new settlement colonies in East Jerusalem this week just as 'proximity talks' were about to begin was an incredible step which undermined confidence in Israel's seriousness about reaching a peaceful agreement on a two-state solution.
Mr De Rossa said: "East Jerusalem, which was illegally annexed by Israel in 1967, is one of the most sensitive and volatile issues. Taking unilateral decisions of this nature at this time is the direct opposite of what is needed.
"Experience in Ireland and elsewhere shows that for a peace process to be successful mutual trust has to be built by confidence-building measures; decisions, actions and indeed rhetoric must be avoided which would undermine the present efforts by the USA and Europe.
"The kind of measures needed are in fact the lifting of the siege on Gaza and the ending of the humanitarian crisis there, the release of the 44 Palestinian children held in Israeli jails and of the 23 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council held in retaliation for the taking prisoner of the Israeli-Defence Forces soldier Guilad Shallit in 2006, whose release would also be a major step in building confidence with Israelis.
"Confidence-building also requires the full implementation of the Goldstone Report recommendations which require both Israelis and Palestinians to undertake independent, credible inquiries to international standards on the evidence found of war crimes.
"Finally I am seriously concerned that NGOs which worked with the Goldstone enquiry in both Israel and Palestine are coming under political pressure, with Israel in particular demanding an end to the funding by Europe to these organisations. This is completely unacceptable and must be rejected by Europe. Civil society has a very important role to play in reaching compromises in peace processes and in holding state authorities to account."
