MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
18.11.2008
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Ioannis Kasoulides, Mario Mauro, Jana Hybášková
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the case of the al-Kurd family
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0608/2008
B6‑0613/2008
European Parliament resolution on the case of the al-Kurd family
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the art.115 of its Rules;
A. Whereas the history of the Al-Kurd house, allegedly owned by 2 Jewish private organisations, is long and disputed and involves complicated legal and political battles; whereas a due legal process of the Israeli Supreme Court was applied on the particular case;
B. Whereas, on the night of Sunday 9 November 2008, Israeli police and army forces evicted the Al-Kurd family from their home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in placeEast Jerusalem where they have lived for more than 50 years;
C. Emphasising to the fact that the eviction has occurred despite international objections to the planned eviction; whereas the US raised the issue with Israeli authorities; whereas this decision paves the way for the takeover of 26 more houses in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in East Jerusalem, targeting 26 other families for eviction; taking into consideration the political ramifications of this matter for the future status of East Jerusalem;
D. Recalling the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and that the International community has not recognised Israeli sovereignty over placeEast Jerusalem;
1. While respecting fully the independence of the Israeli judiciary, regrets the eviction by the Israeli forces of the Al-Kurd family from its home in East Jerusalem in which they have been living since 1956 and asks Israel to resolve possible similar cases in the future in accordance with international law;
2. Affirms that such incidents can only be damaging to the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis;
3. Urges country-regionIsraelCity to refrain form all unilateral measures that may pre-judge the result of the final status negotiations, particularly in placeJerusalem;
4. Recalls that these operations, which seriously affect the life of the residents of these areas, are illegal under international law and calls on the Israeli authorities to put an end to them as soon as possible;
5. Instructs its President to send this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Israel, the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.