From Chris Davies MEP (LD)

Thank you very much for your e-mail regarding Gaza.  I share very much the sense of frustration that has been evident in all of the e-mails I have received.

The New Year opened with the news that the Israelis had bombed the parliament building and the offices of Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City, both places I have visited myself for discussions with PLC members and with Haniyeh when he was prime minister of the shortlived Palestinian unity government.

The current death toll stands at 11 Israelis to 700 Palestinians, a ratio ofnearly 1:70. I join in condemnation of the killing of Israeli civilians on both humanitarian and political grounds (what on earth does it accomplish except to provide the Israeli government with an excuse for its actions), but how can Israel's actions be described as anything other than slaughter?

On the first day of Israel's attack I took part in a discussion on Al Jazeera with Mark Regev, the Israeli government's appallingly brilliant spokesman and propagandist (day after day he is allowed by journalists to get away with defending the indefensible). He demanded that Hamas and the Palestinians do this and that. I pointed out that the demands are always one way, why are not questions also being asked of Israel, about its blockade of Gaza, the expansion of the Jewish settlements, the stealing of Palestinian land, etc etc?

The firing of missiles – however primitive many of them are – with the intention of killing Israeli civilians provides a justification for Israel's actions that is impossible to dismiss. No politician could ignore them. Those of us who are horrified by the killing in Gaza are forced to criticise its grossly disproportionate nature rather than condemn it outright.

The reality that this obscures is that the Israelis have the Palestinians tied like a donkey on a rope. They deny the animal much that it needs; they poke it and humiliate it. From time to time the donkey kicks out. The Israeli response is then to shout "Bad Donkey, " and to hit it, and hit it, until it is cowed and subdued. To use the same metaphor, the failure of the West is to bring in the police and make an arrest for mistreatment of an animal!

The racism that goes to the heart of the Israeli Government's approach is to assume that the Palestinians can be beaten and beaten until they are subdued and will then do what they are told. It fails to recognise that the Palestinians might respond to such treatment in exactly the same way as Israelis would – with defiance.

The response from the West to the events of the past week has been utterly hopeless. Perfectly good words from George W Bush backed by no action at all, and unfortunately I expect no better from Obama.  France and Germany united in their unswerving support for Israel.

Miliband gives the impression that he wants to go a bit further in his criticism of Israel policy, but clearly has no support for that from Gordon Brown, hence his dismissal as "naïve" Nick Clegg's call for a halt to the development of a closer EU-Israel partnership. ¨Naive¨. Why?

It is time for Liberal Democrats to call a halt to the attempt to ride two horses by trying not to upset the Israeli lobby.

Our support for the Palestinian cause is well enough known amongst those (by no means all) in the Jewish community who will not countenance criticism of Israel. It is not well enough known amongst the majority who are appalled by Israel's behaviour.

We should make clear that we will campaign tooth and nail for a viable and independent Palestinian state and will demand an end to deals with an Israeli government that bases its policy approach on a stance that is fundamentally racist.

Thank you again for contacting me.  I am writing daily from the European Parliament on my new blog at www.chrisdaviesmep.blogspot.com and would very much welcome your comments on there.  I have begun a Facebook campaign demanding that Israel end its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza, which I hope you will be able to support.

Yours sincerely

Chris Davies MEP (LD)

 

From Richard Corbett MEP (CA) 

Thank you for your email concerning the current crisis in Gaza. I assure you that I am giving my absolute support to calls for an immediate end to the violence and also for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to save lives.

The European Parliament has supported intensive diplomatic pressure from the European Union and EU Governments to achieve these ends. Labour's European political grouping of MEPs has published its own public statement, a copy of which you can see below this email for your interest, and the whole European Parliament will take a further formal position at our next full session in Strasbourg, although it is to be hoped that day-by-day attempts to resolve the crisis will succeed before then.

I do acknowledge concern about last year's "in principle" decision by EU Governments to upgrade relations with Israel in the context of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which has not been voted in the European Parliament.  Indeed we have deliberately suspended a planned vote on renewing Israel's participation in EU programmes, because of the current crisis. A human rights clause is an essential element of all of the EU's diplomatic agreements with third countries, and Israel's respect for human rights must be an essential part of any consideration of upgrading relations.

I thank you again for your concern in writing to me.
Best Wishes,
Richard Corbett MEP
Labour Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and Humber


Socialist Group statement on Gaza
8 January 2009

The Group

1.      Expresses its deepest outrage at the violence in the Gaza Strip, the consequences of the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army and the military escalation that is causing many hundreds of victims, most of them civilians, including many children. Strongly regrets that civilian and UN targets have been hit.  Calls on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law and international humanitarian law and to allow the international press to be able to follow events on the ground. Calls on Hamas to end rocket attacks and to take its own responsibilities by committing itself to a political process aimed at restoring inter-Palestinian dialogue and at contributing to the ongoing process of negotiations.

2.      Calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The ceasefire, which should include withdrawal from territory re-occupied in recent days, and a negotiated truce, should be guaranteed by a mechanism to be set up by the international community.  This will provide for the dispatching along the borders of the Gaza Strip of a multinational force with the inclusion of Arab and Muslim countries. Invites the EU to endorse any agreement reached by the UN Security Council.

3.      Strongly requests the Israeli authorities to allow food, urgent medical aid and fuel to be delivered to the Gaza Strip through the opening of the crossing point and the lifting of the blockade. The announcement of the opening of a humanitarian corridor in Rafah is a first step that must urgently be implemented. Calls on EU Institutions and other international donors, in co-operation with the United Nations and NGOs, to provide adequate aid in view of the increasing needs and asks Israel not to undermine this essential humanitarian effort. This aid could contribute to the gradual resumption of basic economic recovery in the Strip and to restore decent living conditions for Palestinians, in particular young people.

4.      Considers that the immediate resumption of the Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) and of the Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing (APRC) concluded in September 2005 by Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority after the unilateral disengagement by Israel of the Gaza Strip must be guaranteed without any restriction. The EU could make an essential contribution to this aim by resuming its Monitoring Mission at Rafah.

5.      Reaffirms that there is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and considers that it is time for a lasting and comprehensive peace agreement on the basis of the negotiations that have been conducted until now by both sides.  An International Conference, promoted by the Quartet and with the participation of all regional actors, on the basis of the previous agreement reached between Israelis and Palestinians, and the Arab League initiative, could help to achieve this goal. Considers that renewed efforts for inter-Palestinian reconciliation are an essential step.

6.      Stresses again that any upgrading of political relations between the EU and Israel must be strongly conditioned on respect for international humanitarian law, on real commitment to a comprehensive peace settlement, on the end of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and on respect for full implementation of the EC-PLO Interim Association Agreement. As long as the situation remains so critical the Socialist Group shall maintain its negative position on the EP's vote of assent to further participation of Israel in EC programmes.

7.      Is worried by the serious consequences of the resurgence of the conflict on the daily life of the citizens in the region and on hopes for a lasting peace in the whole Middle East.  Underlines the risk of harming common understanding and dialogue among all communities in Europe.

8.      Urgently calls for a stronger and united political role of the European Union as was the case during the Lebanon crisis of 2006 and the recent crisis between Georgia and Russia. In its action, the EU must take the opportunity to co-operate with the new US administration in order to put an end to the conflict with an agreement based on the two States solution, giving Israelis and Palestinians the possibility to live in peace and security side by side. This will be a huge contribution to the aim of a new peaceful regional security structure in the Middle East.

9.      Invites its Members actively to promote a political campaign directed at European public opinion, in cooperation with European Socialist parties and other progressive movements and NGOs, based on a strong call for peace in the Middle East.


From Linda McAvan MEP

Thank you for your letter concerning the current crisis in Gaza. I am appalled at what is happening and as Vice President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament I led moves for a tough line criticizing the Israeli action and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire (text attached).   Nothing can justify the indiscriminate bombings which are taking such a heavy toll on human life and causing so much suffering. 
 
Labour and Socialist MEPs have long been active in pushing for a negotiated solution to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Colleagues have visited Gaza and witnessed at first hand the horrific conditions and sufferings being inflicted by the blockade.  The Socialist resolution therefore emphasises that any peaceful settlement must include a programme for economic development to restore decent living conditions for the people of Gaza and offer a future to its young people.
 
The Socialist Group does not in any way condone Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and our resolution emphasises Hamas' responsibilities in the conflict.
 
Our resolution makes it clear that we will not support any upgrade of EU/Israel relations as long as the current conflict continues and calls for the EU to step up its humanitarian aid and to intensify its own diplomatic efforts. A high level EU mission was dispatched to the Middle East this week in an attempt to secure a ceasefire and improve humanitarian aid.
 
Thank you again for writing to me to raise your concerns.
 
Linda McAvan MEP