Motion for a resolution - B8-0141/2014Motion for a resolution
B8-0141/2014

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU

16.9.2014 - (2014/2845(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Louis Michel, Marietje Schaake, Javier Nart, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Marielle de Sarnez, Gérard Deprez on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0117/2014

Procedure : 2014/2845(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B8-0141/2014
Texts tabled :
B8-0141/2014
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B8‑0141/2014

European Parliament resolution on Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU

(2014/2845(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949,

–       having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

–       having regard to the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip of 18 September 1995,

–       having regard to the UN Security Council statement of 12 July 2014,

–       having regard to the Oslo Accords (‘Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements’) of 13 September 1993,

–       having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.     whereas the latest conflict in Gaza has caused loss of life and unacceptable suffering to the civilian population of both parties involved;

B.     whereas, according to ongoing preliminary data collected by the Protection Cluster from various sources, over 500 Palestinian children are confirmed to have been killed during the 50-day war, with the cumulative death toll among Palestinians standing at a minimum of 2 131, , including 379 persons who are yet to be identified or their status established; whereas of the initially verified cases, 1 473 are believed to be civilians, including 501 children and 257 women, and 279 are members of armed groups (UNRWA);

C.     whereas 64 Israeli soldiers and three Israeli civilians died during the 50-day war;

D.     whereas the EU has called on the parties to pursue actions conducive to meaningful negotiations, to refrain from actions that undermine the credibility of the process and to prevent incitement;

E.     whereas Parliament has repeatedly expressed its support for the two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, and has called for the resumption of direct peace talks between the parties;

F.     whereas international human rights and humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, is fully applicable to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip;

G.     whereas Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked the United Nations to put Palestine under ‘international protection’ because of the worsening situation in Gaza;

H.     whereas whole neighbourhoods and vital infrastructure were flattened in Gaza, including the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) which remains inoperable, resulting in electricity outages of 18 hours a day; whereas some 450 000 people remain unable to access municipal water due to damage or low pressure;

I.      whereas shelter repair and reconstruction of Palestinian refugee homes is expected to cost USD 526 million according to preliminary estimates (UNRWA);

J.      whereas 29 UNRWA school buildings continue to serve as collective centres for over 63 000 displaced persons;

1.      Expresses its condolences to all victims of the fighting and to their families; calls for accountability and for those responsible for crimes to be brought to justice;

2.      Urges the UE to participate effectively in the urgent humanitarian aid effort and in the reconstruction of public facilities and private houses in Gaza; calls on the EU to participate fully in the International Donors Conference on 12 October in Cairo;

3.      Emphasises that Israel, as the occupying power and under the Fourth Geneva Convention, is the sole and main party responsible for the maintenance of minimum living conditions for inhabitants in Gaza;

4.      Urges the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah Crossing to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza and to enable the transit of Palestinian civilians;

5.      Stresses again that peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians; calls again for a lasting ceasefire and the resumption of direct peace talks between both parties;

6.      Urges the EU and its Member States again to play a more active political role, also within the Quartet, in the efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians; supports the High Representative in her efforts to create a credible perspective for re-launching the peace process;

7.      Encourages key regional actors, notably Egypt and Jordan, to continue their efforts to calm the situation; reiterates its strong support for the two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital of both states, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security; reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace;

8.      Reiterates its call to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip in order to start the reconstruction and economic recovery of Gaza, linked to an effective control mechanism to prevent the smuggling of arms into Gaza in recognition of Israel’s legitimate security needs;

9.      Encourages an intra-Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in order to work together to rebuild Gaza and to find a long-term political solution;

10.    Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Parliament and Government of Egypt, and the Parliament and Government of Jordan.