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JERUSALEM. Between 22 and 28 August, a European Delegation of
former ministers from The Netherlands, Ireland and Germany and a
high-ranking former ambassador from France paid a fact finding
visit to Israel and Palestine (i.e. Occupied Palestinian
Territories). The Delegation also consisted of five civil society
representatives from Europe. The Delegation was led by Prof.
Andreas van Agt, Prime Minister of The Netherlands from 1977 to
1982.
After visiting Israel and Palestine for five days and meeting
with numerous civil society representatives on both sides, as
well as several parliamentarians, the Delegation calls on the
European Union and EU Member State officials and institutions
dealing with Israel and Palestine, in particular their own
governments, to act decisively and hold Israel to account for its
ongoing violations of International Law.
The visit took place shortly after Israel’s disengagement from
the Gaza Strip. The Delegation embarked on its trip at this
crucial moment in time, to witness and assess at first-hand
those facts that (continue to) threaten the prospects for a just
peace and that are not being decisively addressed by the
international community.
Israel’s disengagement from Gaza has raised hopes among many that
peace is now within reach. In light of the facts it has witnessed
on the ground, the Delegation regrets having to report that this
hope is unjustified.
The Delegation views Israel’s occupation and other policies of
the Government of Israel which are illegal, and which cause much
suffering among Palestinians, as the root cause of the current
deadlock and lack of progress in reaching a negotiated, just and
durable peace in accordance with applicable international
humanitarian and human rights law.
The Delegation comes to the conclusion that in light of Israel’s
persistence in these policies, and their highly destructive
impact on the situation on the ground, an end to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict depends on a more determined
international intervention to achieve accountability from Israel
and enforce its compliance with International Law.
The Delegation deplores the fact that the international community
has to date not brought an end to these policies of successive
Israeli governments, thus sustaining a situation of lawlessness
and impunity in Palestine.
The Delegation urgently calls on the European Union and its
Member States to take immediate action aimed at holding Israel to
account for its ongoing violations of International Law, thereby
contributing to the preconditions for a just and sustainable
peace in Israel and Palestine.
The Delegation’s call (see annex) is signed by the following
members:
Prof. Andreas van Agt, Head of Delegation (Prime Minister
of the Netherlands, 1977-1982)
Mr. Michael D. Higgins (Minister of Culture, 1993-1997,
and a current member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Ireland)
Dr. Norbert Blüm (Minister of Labour and Social Affairs,
1982-1998, Germany)
Mr. Lucien Champenois (Minister Plenipotentiary, France,
retired)
Dr. Rupert Neudeck (President of Greenhelmets, Germany)
Dr. Hajo G. Meyer (Board Member of “A Different Jewish
Voice” and board member of “International Forum for Justice and
Peace”, The Netherlands)
Ms. Chris Tilanus (The Netherlands)
Mr. Ben Smoes (Chairman “International Forum for Justice
and Peace”, The Netherlands)
Mr. Jan van der Kolk (Former member of the Board of
Trustees, Interchurch organisation for development co-operation,
The Netherlands)
_________________________________________________
For more information and interviews with Dutch Delegation
members, please contact Martin Siepermann at +31-6-18396867. The
Delegation’s call in electronic format can be found at http://www.euromission.blogspot.com/
Annex
Statement by European Delegation to Israel and Palestine
Between 22 and 28 August, a European Delegation of former
ministers from The Netherlands, Ireland and Germany and a
high-ranking former ambassador from France paid a fact finding
visit to Israel and Palestine (i.e. Occupied Palestinian
Territories). The Delegation also consisted of five civil society
representatives from Europe. The Delegation was led by Prof.
Andreas van Agt, Prime Minister of The Netherlands from 1977 to
1982
The visit took place shortly after Israel’s disengagement from
The Gaza Strip. The Delegation embarked on its trip at this
crucial moment in time, to witness and assess at first-hand
those facts that (continue to) threaten the prospects for a just
peace and that are not being decisively addressed by the
international community.
The Delegation came to Israel and Palestine to gather these
facts. They wish to bring such facts to the attention of the
international media and the political representatives and
officials in the countries from which they come.
The facts as observed by
the Delegation:
In the Jerusalem area, the Delegation witnessed the
expansion of settlements, taking place at the present time. It
visited a settlement east of Jerusalem, called Ma’ale Adumim.
This settlement, home to 30,000 settlers and 14 kilometres deep
in occupied territory, is part of a ring of settlements, which
effectively cuts off occupied East Jerusalem from the rest of the
West Bank.
It also witnessed the Wall in and around East Jerusalem, e.g. Abu
Dis, as well as the Bethlehem area. In these and other
parts of the West Bank, the Wall obstructs the daily lives of
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, cutting through
Palestinian neighbourhoods, isolating Palestinians from basic
services and each other and constituting de facto annexation of
vast swathes of occupied land.
Unless all settlements, the more than 400,000 settlers and the
Wall in the West Bank are removed, the establishment of an
independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state will not be
possible.
In Hebron, the Delegation witnessed the effective
imprisonment of 150,000 Palestinians within their own community
and their total subordination to the interests of a few hundred
Israeli settlers, residing illegally within their midst.
For a short period, the Delegation experienced the humiliation
that the citizens of the Old City of Hebron can expect to undergo
every day. On a street, protected overhead by netting, several
objects, including refuse, were lodged. In a spot without
netting, a glass bottle was thrown at Palestinians and Delegation
members in such a way as could have caused serious injury.
The Delegation also witnessed, in several respects, the more
general features of the hardship that Israeli suffocation of the
local economy brings to their lives. For example, about 2,500
Palestinian businesses have been shut down due to orders by the
Israeli army.
Just a few days after the removal of the settlers, the Delegation
visited The Gaza Strip. When entering the Strip at Erez crossing
point, the Delegation experienced the oppressive procedures,
dehumanising infrastructure and humiliation which Palestinians
encounter on the occasion of every entry and exit.
The Delegation concluded that the occupation of the Gaza Strip is
far from over, considering Israel’s continuing control over vital
aspects of the lives of the Gazans. All external borders,
including air and sea, remain controlled by Israel, so that they
continue to be isolated. The Israeli army is to remain inside
parts of the Gaza Strip for an undisclosed period.
The Delegation witnessed some of the widespread destruction that
38 years of occupation have brought to the lives and properties
of over one million Palestinians in The Gaza Strip. About two
thirds of the local population is unemployed and lives below the
poverty line. These conditions pose a real and continuous threat
to their human dignity.
Facilitated by UNRWA, the Delegation visited the Jabalia refugee
camp in The Gaza Strip, where 106,000 people live on 1,3 square
kilometres. There, the misery is beyond description, among other
things because of a shortage of water and access to education and
health care. It concluded that the well-being of these and other
refugees in The Gaza Strip, numbering 900,000 in total, is at
great risk following Israel’s disengagement.
In numerous parts inside the West Bank, the Delegation
encountered physical obstacles, such as checkpoints and
roadblocks, put in place by the Israeli army, which seriously
infringe on the Palestinians’ freedom of movement and hurt their
livelihood and economy badly.
The Delegation also spoke to a number of key actors on
both sides. Meetings were held with Israeli and Palestinian civil
society representatives and parliamentarians. High level meetings
were requested on both the Israeli, as well as the Palestinian
side. The latter responded positively, granting a meeting with
Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
All of these meetings reinforced the grave concerns of the
Delegation members, that the existing threats to the prospects
for peace must not be underestimated.
Conclusion:
Israel’s disengagement from Gaza has raised hopes among many that
peace is now within reach. In light of the above-mentioned and
other facts it has witnessed on the ground, the Delegation
regrets having to report that this hope is unjustified. The
removal of settlers from Gaza does not constitute a withdrawal in
any meaningful sense.
The Delegation recognises the need for democratisation and the
strengthening of the rule of law on the Palestinian side and
respect for human rights by the Palestinian Authority. It
recognises and reaffirms Israel’s right to exist and its right to
security. It condemns any attacks directed against civilians. The
Delegation unequivocally condemns suicide bombings, executed by
Palestinian non-state actors. This view was shared by all of
those with whom the Delegation had meetings.
It firmly opposes the persistence of the Government of Israel in
policies, in particular the settlement policy, which are illegal
and cause much suffering among Palestinians on a daily basis. The
Delegation views the continuing occupation and these policies as
the root cause of the current deadlock and lack of progress in
reaching a negotiated, just and durable peace in accordance with
applicable international humanitarian and human rights law.
To date, the international community has not brought an end to
these policies of the Government of Israel, thus sustaining a
situation of lawlessness and impunity in Palestine. This fact has
led to the Delegation’s concentration on a call for action where
it feels the greatest need for change exists.
The Delegation comes to the conclusion that in light of Israel’s
persistence in the above-mentioned policies, and the impact of
such policies on the situation on the ground, an end to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict depends in the first instance on a
more determined international intervention to achieve
accountability from Israel and to enforce a compliance with
International Law.
Intervention should be shaped in accordance with the relevant
rules and principles of International Law as, inter alia, stated
in the July 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice on
the Wall. To promote justice and peace, such intervention, by the
European Union among others, must continue until Israel fully
complies with International Law.
Our Call
Preamble
(a) The Delegation concludes that the “constructive dialogue”
between the EU and Israel has not led to tangible results with
respect to forcing an end to policies of successive Israeli
governments, policies that have caused and are causing much
suffering, and that obstruct peace.
(b) It regrets that their own and other European governments, as
well as EU institutions, have chosen not to apply such effective
pressure on israel as would lead to a compliance with
International Law;
(c) It deplores the fact that the recently concluded Action Plan
between the EU and Israel does not include non-negotiable,
operational and effective benchmarks referring to human rights
standards, with which Israel has to comply before enjoying
(extended) benefits;
(d) It particularly deplores the fact that Israel’s illegal Wall,
and the human rights violations it causes, are not mentioned in
the Action Plan and that a special working group on human rights
has not been established;
(e) The Delegation notes the call by 106 Palestinian
organisations representing Palestinian refugees, Palestinians in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip and Palestinian citizens of Israel,
to use boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, until
it complies with International Law;
(f) It welcomes actions by civil actors, like the divestment
initiative of the Presbyterian Church (US) and other churches,
aimed at ensuring that they do not contribute in any way to
supporting the occupation of Palestinian land.
Hence, the Delegation issues the following call.
The Delegation calls on the European Union and EU Member State
officials and institutions dealing with Israel and Palestine, in
particular their own governments, to:
1) continue confirming the applicability of, and the demand for
the enforcement of relevant rules and principles of International
Law as guiding features of any efforts towards peace in Israel
and Palestine, in particular within the Quartet;
2) call for an international peace conference, in support of the
Roadmap for Peace, to be convened at short notice, in accordance
with prevailing International Law;
3) remind Israel, following the removal of its settlers, of its
continuing responsibilities as the Occupying Power of The Gaza
Strip (in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention); and
exert pressure on Israel to allow freedom of movement for
Palestinian goods and people within and in and out of The Gaza
Strip, including from air and sea and a freely accessible transit
corridor with the West Bank;
4) live up to their obligations as stated in the ruling by the
International Court of Justice on the Wall and force Israel to
immediately stop building the Wall in occupied territory and
dismantle the parts already built there; and to urge the Security
Council of the United Nations to take immediate action, based on
UNGAR ES-10/15 and aimed at enforcing this ruling;
5) suspend all forms of military co-operation with Israel which
may contribute to or facilitate the suppression of the
Palestinians; and to apply without delay the EU Code of Conduct
on Arms Trade to the transit of military equipment to Israel via
(air)ports of EU Member States, as well as to the export of such
equipment to Israel;
6) force Israel to end its settlement activity in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, and to exclude settlement-based
enterprises from engaging in trade with EU member states;
7) actively support the rule of law and democratisation on the
Palestinian side and promote the Palestinian Authority’s respect
for human rights;
8) contribute to the establishment of a special working group and
monitoring mechanism addressing Israel’s Human Rights behaviour;
9) contribute to the development, outlining, and putting into
operation, of concrete benchmarks, which Israel has to meet
before enjoying benefits, and to refrain from extending
privileges to Israel until it lives up to these benchmarks and
its international legal obligations;
10) indicate the clear intention to activate the human rights
clause of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and suspend this
agreement, if Israel does not live up to these benchmarks and its
obligations in due time;
The Delegation calls on the EU and its Member States to take such
and related action, without delay, in the interest of justice and
peace in Israel and Palestine.
Jerusalem, 28 August 2005
Signatories:
Former Ministers and Ambassadors
Prof. Andreas van Agt, Head of Delegation
Prime Minister of The Netherlands, 1977-1982
Mr. Michael D. Higgins
Minister of Culture, 1993-1997, and a current member of the
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ireland
Dr. Norbert Blüm
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, 1982-1998, Germany
Mr. Lucien Champenois
Minister Plenipotentiary, France (retired)
Representatives of the
wider civil society
Dr. Rupert Neudeck
President of Greenhelmets, Germany
Dr. Hajo G. Meyer
Board member of “A Different Jewish Voice” and board member of
“International Forum for Justice and Peace”, The Netherlands
Ms. Chris Tilanus
The Netherlands
Mr. Ben Smoes
Chairman “International Forum for Justice and Peace”, The
Netherlands
Mr. Jan van der Kolk
Former member of the Board of Trustees “Interchurch organisation
for development co-operation”, The Netherlands
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