RAMALLAH, January 26, 2012 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi told European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that Europe’s commitment to peace in the Middle East is being put to the test, a statement issued by Ashrawi’s office said Thursday.
“The real test of Europe’s commitment to peace and justice lies in enforcing concrete measures articulated in the Council of the European Union statement adopted in 2009 that calls for an to the end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” Ashrawi told Ashton after meeting her in Jerusalem Wednesday evening.
“And such it is not just a resumption of negotiations that must be addressed but the substance, credibility, and integrity of these talks must be taken into consideration,” she said.
Ashrawi told Ashton that in spite of recent EU reports highlighting the dire situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory, it remains important to turn words into deeds.
“It is of the upmost importance to translate words into action and in this context, such positions signal a vital shift in the way European countries should approach genuine peacemaking and handle Israel’s persistent efforts to create ‘facts on the ground,’” she said.
“We call on the international community, particularly the European Union, to adopt concrete steps and bold measures to hold Israel accountable for its unilateral measures and violations of international law.”
Ashrawi warned that “with the escalation of settlement activities in and around Jerusalem, the arbitrary arrests of Palestinian representatives and lawmakers, continued annexation of Palestinian land and natural resources, and the eviction and deportation of Palestinians, Israel is thwarting all efforts to resume talks and to honor its obligations under international humanitarian law.”
She said that negotiations so far have proven “to be futile precisely because of these illegal acts and any return to negotiations require a total cessation of these violations.”
Ashrawi further added, “We will persist in our efforts to pursue membership in the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly, and other multinational agencies and organizations. Our actions correspond with the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and statehood. European countries should hold Israel accountable and support our move to seek representation in international legal forums and institutions.”
Ashrawi and Ashton also discussed reunification between Fatah and Hamas, and the important need for Europe to implement reconstruction and development projects in Area C and Jerusalem, which are under full Israeli control.
M.S.
