Franziska Katharina Brantner, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, I would like to welcome Minister Kozakou-Marcoullis. The advancement of plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including the E1 zone, is both legally unacceptable and politically offensive, making a future Palestinian state unviable.

Let me also mention another thing that happened yesterday morning. The Israeli army attacked the offices of three Palestinian organisations: the Women’s Union, the Palestinian NGO Network and Addameer as well as the umbrella organisation for Palestinian NGOs. Many of them are actually supported by European foundations or organisations. I believe this not only constitutes a threat to the peace in the region but is a really clear breach of international law and will harm the promotion of human rights in both countries.

The EU is currently extending its cooperation with Israel, as decided at the last EU-Israel Association Council in July 2012, with up to 60 concrete activities. I demand that any implementation of new areas of cooperation be frozen for the time being as a signal to the current Israeli Government that the EU does not accept Israel’s latest breaches of international obligations. Furthermore, I ask the High Representative to consider withdrawing the Head of the Delegation to Israel and Tel Aviv to send a strong signal to our Israeli counterparts that the EU follows words with actions. The EU needs to be clearer and also to take action on the illegal settlement products and to have proper labelling. This is not against Israelis – let me be clear – but is a reaction to the policies of the current government.