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Buzek on the closure of the West Bank

Amman -
Friday, March 12, 2010

Following the news of the 48 hour military blockade of the West Bank Jerzy Buzek President of the European Parliament, who is in the region for the plenary of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, said:

"The decision by Israel to undergo a 48 hour blockade of the West Bank is unhelpful. Today we need every sign of good will for further peace negotiations to reconvene as soon as possible. Now this seems even more complicated, then just a few days ago.

This week the region was visited by the American Vice-President Joe Biden. Next week Catherine Ashton the EU foreign affairs chief will be here as well. Those missions aim at helping dialogue to take off. Such moves, as the closure, make already complicated missions even harder. I strongly urge the Israeli government to reconsider their decision.

This weekend in Amman members of parliament from EU member states and the countries of the Mediterranean will discuss among other things the peace process in the Middle East. Our meeting will be unfortunately overshadowed by this decision.  However our aim in Amman is to conduct a serious exchange-of-views based on content. We will do that regardless of emotions, which now run high".

President Jerzy Buzek met last Wednesday in Strasbourg with Mr Noam Shalit, the father of Staff Sergeant Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been kidnapped by Hamas in Israel nearly 4 years ago.

The European Parliament adopted at its plenary session this week on Thursday a resolution calling for his immediate release.

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