GAZA, December 9, 2009 (WAFA)- European Parliament Delegation denied access to the Gaza Strip by Israeli Authorities.
The delegation clarified that a cross-party delegation from the European Parliament was due to continue its programme with a visit to Gaza today, a visit which had been approved by the Israeli authorities.
Even Israel had yesterday afternoon granted final permission for all members of the delegation to travel. However, some three hours later entry for all members of the delegation was rescinded ’on security grounds’, without further explanation.
The delegation insisted on a full explanation of the security risks claimed by Israel.
They said, “we received the news of the cancellation with bewilderment and dismay,” adding “ it is extremely curious that the cancellation came within a few hours of the announcement of the EU Council statement re-affirming Europe’s strong position in favour of an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and an end to settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
“The inconvenience caused to the delegation is minor compared to the constant tension and harassment to which Palestinians live with in the occupied territory,” the delegation said, “ including house demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem, and the appalling conditions under which the people are living in Gaza.” as reported to them by ECHO, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid office
They said, “our mission in the Gaza Strip was three-fold. Firstly, to check on the humanitarian conditions under which the people of Gaza are living in view of the continued restrictions being implemented by Israel.” Explaining, “we were due to have a meeting there with Mr John Ging of UNWRA. Secondly, to urge the PLC members we were due to meet that reconciliation with their colleague elected members in the West Bank was essential to make progress on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.”
They interested “ to check on the effectiveness of EU expenditure in the area. This mission was clearly as much in the interests of Israeli security as it was in the interests of the Palestinian people.”
They stated, “Being denied access to Gaza does not improve the relationship between this Israeli government and the European Parliament. By denying elected members of the European Parliament the opportunity to meet our democratically-elected counterparts of the PLC is an unacceptable interference in the democratic process, and is contrary to international law.”
They noted, “we have already been in touch with the President of the European Parliament on this matter, and will be raising these matters in the European Parliament, with the European Council, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.” Not intended, “ to let this matter rest, Peace in the Middle East cannot be won by starving, or destroying the will, of 1.5m people in the Gaza strip, 50% of whom are young people. All it does is harden support for extremism.”
Participants list of the European Parliament delegation is as follow : Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Ireland, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Chair of the Delegation; Mr Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Cyprus, Confederal Group of the European United Left (GUE) Vice-Chair of the Delegation; Mr Potito Salatto, Italy, Group of the European People's Party (EPP); Mr Rosario Crocetta, Italy, S&D, Ms Alexandra Thein, Germany, Group of the Alliance of Democrats and Liberals for Europe (ALDE), Ms Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, France, Greens; Sir Robert Atkins, UK, European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) and Mr Georgios Toussas, Greece, GUE.<OptDel></OptDel>
