Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 29 September 2011 - Strasbourg

Explanations of vote

Text tabled : B7-0525/2011

  Pino Arlacchi (S&D), in writing. – I hope that this resolution will have unanimous consensus, as the right of Palestinians to self-determination and to have their own state is unquestionable. The EU has repeatedly confirmed its support for the two-state solution, on the basis of the 1967 borders. For this reason, the EU and its Member States must be united in addressing the legitimate demand of the Palestinians to be represented as a state at the United Nations. This text clearly asks the EU to play a more active role, also within the Quartet, in the efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The ‘Arab Spring’ made even more urgent the necessity to find a solution to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. In order to do so, the Israeli Government must immediately stop all constructions and extensions of the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. At the same time, a cessation of rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip is imperative. I strongly believe that Palestine is ready for sovereign statehood and that the success of state-building efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad must be recognised without any delay.