MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Palestine - the raids of the Israeli forces on Palestinian TV stations

13.3.2012

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Patrick Le Hyaric, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Willy Meyer, Marie-Christine Vergiat, João Ferreira, Inês Cristina Zuber, Jacky Hénin, Nikolaos Chountis, Marisa Matias, Miguel Portas, Younous Omarjee on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0160/2012

B7‑0167/2012

European Parliament resolution on Palestine - the raids of the Israeli forces on Palestinian TV stations

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

–   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

–   having regard to the Geneva Convention of 1949,

–   having regard to the Declaration by High Representative/Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton on behalf of the EU on the closure of two Palestinian television stations issued on 3 March 2012,

–   having regards the Oslo Accords

–   having regard to the UN Resolutions on the Middle East,

–   having regard to the EU-Israel Association Agreement, especially Article 2 of the agreement,

–   having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure

A. whereas, early on 29 February 2012, Israeli Defence Forces and intelligence officers carried out raids on two Palestinian TV stations, in the West Bank, seizing equipment and documents and thereby forcing the stations to close;

B.  whereas the raids were on Al-Watan and Al-Quds Educational TV (an educational television station which puts on "Sesame street", anti-smoking programmes and broadcasts to help integrate disabled children into the community), both in Ramallah, territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority;

C. whereas the Oslo Accords established an Israeli-Palestinian Joint Technical Committee to address any issues arising in the field telecommunications;

D. whereas such raids threaten basic rights of public access to information, press freedom and freedom of expression and constitute a flagrant violation of human rights;

E.  whereas Article 2 of the EU‑Israel Association Agreement, which states that the relationship between the EU and Israel will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles which guide their internal and external policies as an essential element of the Agreement;

1.  Strongly condemns the brutal Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip which caused the death of at least 23 Palestinian civilians and injured many more;

2. Strongly condemns these arbitrary and illegal operations which serve to intimidate Palestinian media and journalists, victims of repeated attacks by the Israel Defence Forces;

3.  Denounces the raids as an act of aggression against the Palestinian people by the Israeli authorities and a violation of the basic rights of public access to information, press freedom and freedom of expression;

4.  Condemns the escalating aggressive behaviour of the Israeli authorities in the occupied Palestinian territories, and call for an immediate end of these repressive acts;

5.  Reiterates its call on the Israeli authorities to respect all the Agreements, in which both parties, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have concluded;

6.  Urges the Israeli military to return equipment confiscated immediately and allow the resumption of the activity of these two TV stations;

7.  Calls for the suspension of the UE-Israel Association Agreement in conformity of the Article 2;

8.  Stresses that Israeli actions against the Palestinian people have repeatedly been defined as contradicting International Law especially regarding the continuing expansion of settlements in occupied territories, the blockade of Gaza, the rights of Israeli minorities and NGOS

9.  Calls on the international community, including the EU and its Member States, to demand the end of the occupation, to reconfirm their strong commitment to the defence of the rights of the Palestinian people to live in peace in their territory and proceed with the recognition of an independent viable Palestinian State;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, the General Director of the UNESCO; the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Prime Minister of Israel and the Knesset.