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Wednesday, 3 December 2008 - Brussels OJ edition

Israel’s participation in Community programmes - Israel’s participation in Community programmes (debate)
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  David Hammerstein, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group.(ES) Mr President, it is facts that count, not words. Facts are worth a thousand times more than words. We have adopted many resolutions in this Parliament. Yes, there have been criticisms and good intentions in many of the resolutions that we have adopted, but the facts are more important.

It is a fact that a year of talks within the Annapolis process has failed. It is a fact that the settlement process is continuing. It is a fact that the situation in Gaza is worse than ever. It is also a fact that today, while we are talking, there are confrontations going on between settlers and the Israeli army itself.

I want to be able to vote on this resolution in a few months’ time. I want us to be able to deepen our relations with the State of Israel. That is because the true friends of Israel, those of us who love Israel, dare to speak the truth. The truth is that the occupation as it exists today cannot continue any longer. It cannot go on any longer. We have to send out the message that the European Union’s actions are conditional on a process of peace and basic respect for human rights. In that way we will be able to move ahead. We do want more and better relations with Israel and with the Palestinians, and we have to demonstrate that through clear conditions and clear actions, and not just words.

 
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