EU Parliament Resolutions

The European Parliament has passed numerous resolutions on the issue of Palestine.  Some of the more recent are outlined below.

17 June 2010
European Parliament resolution on the Israeli military operation against the humanitarian flotilla and the Gaza blockade

(Supported by all major in the Parliament and passed by 470 votes to 56)

The European Parliament,
–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Gaza, in particular those of 15 January 2009 on the situation in the Gaza Strip(1) and of 18 February 2009 on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip(2) ,
–   having regard to the Venice Declaration of 1980,
–   having regard to the previous Middle East Quartet statements, in particular that of 19 March 2010 reaffirming the fundamental principles laid down in Trieste on 26 June 2009 and that of 11 May 2010 on the renewal of proximity talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians,
–   having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1860 of 8 January 2009 (S/RES/1860(2009)) and 1850 of 16 December 2008 (S/RES/1850(2008)),
–   having regard to the Declaration by High Representative/Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton on behalf of the EU on the Israeli military operation against the flotilla issued on 31 May 2010,
–   having regard to the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council (S/9940) of 31 May 2010,
–   having regard to the Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process of 8 December 2009,
–   having regard to the statement by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, of 31 May 2010,
–   having regard to the Resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Grave Attacks by Israeli Forces against the Humanitarian Boat Convoy of 2 June 2010,
–   having regard to the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the WHO on 18 May 2010,
–   having regard to the Report by the World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published in November 2009 on the situation in Gaza,
–   having regard to Rule 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Israel's military operation, in international waters, on 31 May 2010 against a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for Gaza resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and the wounding of 38 civilians and seven Israeli soldiers,
B.  whereas the border crossings in and out of Gaza have been closed since June 2007, after Hamas took power by military means, and the blockade on the movement of people and goods has increased poverty, paralysed reconstruction and decimated the economy in the Gaza Strip, creating a rampant black market controlled by Hamas, among others; whereas this blockade has not resulted in the release of Gilad Shalit as expected by the Israeli authorities, which has been repeatedly called for by the European Parliament; whereas this blockade has not achieved its aim of undermining extremists and, as it affects especially the most vulnerable parts of the population, has given rise to growing radicalisation,
C. whereas according to previous statements by UN organs, the blockade on the Gaza Strip represents collective punishment in contravention of international humanitarian law,
D. whereas 80% of the Gazan population is dependent on food aid, more than 60% are affected by food insecurity, unemployment is around 50% and sanitary and environmental conditions have seriously deteriorated,
E.  whereas only 3 600 truckloads of food aid entered Gaza in the first three months of this year, as opposed to 36 000 during the first three months of 2007, and whereas only 81 products are allowed into Gaza while the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) estimates that 6 000 products are required to meet basic humanitarian needs,
F.  whereas the Palestinian Territories are the largest third-country recipient of EU funds and this support has played an important role in the attempt to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip; whereas the EU continues to provide essential humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip, including through UNRWA,
G. whereas the two-state solution remains the essential basis for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and therefore any unilateral step that may undermine this prospect should be avoided; whereas ongoing proximity talks may lead to the resumption of direct peace negotiations with a view to establishing a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel,
H. whereas to date Hamas continues to prevent the entry of the flotilla’s humanitarian cargo into Gaza,
1.  Extends its condolences to the families of the victims;
2.  Condemns the attack against the flotilla in international waters, which is a breach of international law;
3.  Calls for a prompt, international and impartial inquiry into this attack, insists that the principles of accountability and liability be upheld and urges the HR/VP and EU Member States to take action to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken in order to make this demand effective;
4.  Urges Israel to immediately end the blockade on Gaza, which has resulted in a humanitarian disaster and increasing radicalisation, which is becoming a source of insecurity for Israel and for the region as a whole;
5.  Demands that all attacks against Israel cease immediately and warns that those who perpetrate them must face their full responsibility;
6.  Urges the HR/VP and EU Member States to take steps to ensure the sustainable opening of all the crossing points to and from Gaza, including the port of Gaza, with adequate international end-use monitoring, to allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and commercial goods necessary for reconstruction and a self-supporting economy, as well as currency flows and free movement of people;
7.  Urges the HR/VP to immediately take the initiative by submitting an EU plan to the Quartet with the aim of ending the blockade of Gaza and addressing Israeli security concerns by ensuring international monitoring of the crossings, including the reappraisal of the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EU-BAM), potentially with a maritime dimension, as well as its reactivation, and deploying an international naval force to monitor the Gaza seashore;
8.  Recalls that, even if the EU is ready to extend its assistance package to Palestinians, this commitment is not open-ended and insists that, while humanitarian aid must remain unconditional, the EU must play a political role which delivers tangible results towards the creation of a viable Palestinian state which are consistent with its significant financial assistance and economic weight in the region;
9.  Expresses its support for the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and underlines the need for its continuation with a view to the resumption of direct negotiation;
10. Is convinced that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive reshaping of EU policy towards the Middle East to perform a decisive and coherent political role, accompanied by effective diplomatic tools, in the interests of peace and security in this neighbouring region of vital strategic interest to the EU; considers that this should extend to all EU policies, including, among others, trade and development policies;
11. Commends the work carried out by UNRWA and, aware of the financial shortfall it will face before the end of this year, calls on the international donor community to honour its existing pledges and to increase further its contributions;
12. Notes that the recent events have considerably damaged relations between Turkey and Israel; encourages the Turkish Government to focus its diplomatic and political efforts on easing the plight of the Palestinian people and to contribute to the Middle East peace process;
13. Welcomes the recent opening of the Rafah crossing by the Egyptian authorities;
14. Calls for the immediate release of the Israeli sergeant Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas on Israeli soil on 25 June 2006 and who has been held incommunicado in Gaza ever since;
15. Urges the Council to take steps to convene without any delay the EU-Israel Association Council in order to discuss the current situation;
16. Urges the Council also to take steps to convene the EU-Palestinian Authority Joint Committee;
17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary General, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, the Israeli Government, the Knesset, the President of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Government and Parliament of Turkey, and the Government and Parliament of Egypt.

10 March 2010
European Parliament resolution on implementation of the Goldstone recommendations on Israel/Palestine

(Passed by 335 votes to 287)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, on which the Union is based, as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to the Geneva Conventions,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East,
– having regard to the Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process adopted on 8 December 2009,
– having regard to the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission’s report on the Gaza conflict,
– having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution 64/10,
– having regard to the UN Secretary-General’s report of 5 February 2010 to the UN General Assembly,
– having regard to the UN General Assembly resolution of 26 February 2010;
– having regard to the fact that Hamas is included in the EU’s list of terrorist organisations,
– having regard to Rule 110(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the armed conflict in Gaza that started on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009 saw more than 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed, and led to considerable destruction of civilian infrastructure,
B. whereas the UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 64/10 of 5 November 2009, has called for all sides to undertake investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards,
C. whereas, on 3 December 2009, the UN Secretary-General drew the attention of all parties to the relevant provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution 64/10, and requested written information within three months on any steps they might have taken or were in the process of taking,
D. whereas the UN Secretary-General, in his statement of 4 February 2010, called on the parties to carry out credible domestic investigations into the conduct of the Gaza conflict,
E. whereas the UN General Assembly, in its resolution of 26 February 2010, reiterated its call on both Israel and the Palestinian side to conduct credible investigations, and requested further reports within five months,
F. whereas the EU’s action on the international scene must be guided by strict respect for the principles and objectives of the UN Charter and for international law; recalling that, under international law, states have an obligation to respect, protect and ensure the application of international humanitarian law,
G. whereas the Government of Israel reports that it is investigating 150 separate incidents that occurred during the operation in Gaza,
H. whereas the Palestinian authorities set up an independent investigation commission on 25 January 2010,
I. whereas the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated as a result of the blockade, which is in contravention of international humanitarian law,
1. Stresses once again the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and between Israelis and Palestinians in particular; underlines that respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties under all circumstances and trust-building between Israelis and Palestinians are essential components of a peace process leading to two states living side by side in peace and security;
2. Reiterates its call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and on the Member States to work towards a strong EU common position on follow-up to the report of the fact-finding mission – led by Judge Goldstone – on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, publicly demanding the implementation of its recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes;
3. Urges both sides to conduct investigations within five months that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness, in line with the UN General Assembly resolutions adopted on 5 November 2009 and 26 February 2010; stresses that respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties and under all circumstances is an essential prerequisite for achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
4. Reiterates its call on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and on the Member States to monitor actively the implementation of the recommendations set out in the Goldstone report by consulting the EU’s external missions and NGOs working in the field; calls for these recommendations and related observations to be included in EU dialogues with both sides, and in multilateral fora;
5. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to assess the findings of the investigations by all parties, and to report back to the European Parliament on these assessments;
6. Welcomes the efforts made by the UN General Assembly to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law during the Gaza conflict, and encourages it to continue these efforts;
7. Stresses that respect for the rule of law is a fundamental value both within the European Union and in its relations with third countries and parties; also underlines that the responsibility and credibility of the European Union and of its Member States require the investigations to be monitored fully;
8. Urges the European Union and its Member States to take into consideration the outcomes of follow-up investigations and of the implementation of the Goldstone report’s recommendations vis-à-vis all the parties referred to in that report;
9. Stresses the importance of cooperation between official authorities and non-governmental organisations in the context of follow-up investigations and the implementation of the Goldstone report’s recommendations by all sides; expresses its concern about pressure placed on NGOs involved in the preparation of the Goldstone report and in follow-up investigations, and calls on authorities on all sides to refrain from any measures restricting the activities of these organisations;
10. Recognises the continuing plight of the people of Gaza as a result of the blockade, and welcomes the call made by the Council on 8 December 2009 for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Quartet, the Quartet envoy to the Middle East, the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, the Israeli Government and Parliament, the President of the Palestinian Authority, and the Palestinian Legislative Council.