JERUSALEM, February 24, 2017 (WAFA) – Members of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine Thursday urged the European Union (EU) and its member states to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Led by delegation chair Neoklis Sylikiotis, the five-member Delegation for Relations with Palestine visited Jerusalem and the West Bank on February 20- 24.

“The EU and the European Parliament are strongly in favour of a two-state solution as the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East,” urged Sylikiotis urged at the end of a fact-finding mission.

“There cannot be a two-state solution without two states. The EU and its Member States must recognize Palestine as a state. We as the European Parliament have done our part,” he added.

During their visit, the cross-party delegation of MEPs met Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, communities at risk of forced displacement and civil society organizations battling Israel‘s settlement expansion.

“Settlement building and expansion are increasing exponentially, and there is a clear correlation of demolitions of houses and schools, some of them funded with EU aid, with the expansion of settlements in the E1 Area,” Sylikiotis said.

“We remind Israel that forcible displacement is a crime under international law,” he added.

MEPs discussed the Israeli government‘s recent decision to retroactively legalize settlements illegally built on Palestinian land during a plenary debate on 14 February.

During their visit to the Ofer military court, MEPs noted that there was a lot of procedure, but very little justice in the military courts.

“After what we‘ve seen to the Ofer court, we cannot but urge the EU to put justice and fair trials high on the agenda of any dialogue with Israel,” Sylikiotis said.

During meetings with PA officials, MEPs urged the implementation of the new Palestinian unity deal reached in January and expressed their support for local elections to enable the political participation of Palestinians.

They also insisted on the need for the EU to observe the forthcoming elections.

Israeli authorities once again refused MEPs access into Gaza, where the European Parliament has not been allowed in since 2011.

“This is unacceptable,” Sylikiotis said, calling for an end to the Israeli blockade on the Strip which is now in its tenth year.

“After half a century of occupation it is evident that the policies we have are not working to end this conflict and finally have peace,” he added.

He urged the international community to immediately implement UN Security Council Resolution 2334, distinguishing between the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.

He pledged that the delegation would continue working to ensure the EU steps up its diplomatic efforts, effectively implements its labelling guidelines with regard to settlement products and builds a fully-fledged policy of differentiation in all its dealings with Israel.

He stressed that the EU would respect international law as the cornerstone of its policy and urged the EU “not only make statements,” but to “act fully in respect also of our own laws.”