Verbatim report of proceedings

Tuesday, 22 November 2016 - Strasbourg

Situation in the West Bank, including settlements (debate)

  Afzal Khan (S&D). – Madam President, Madam High Representative, virtually the whole world accepts and wants a two-state solution, yet this concept is vanishing before our eyes. Given the US election results, the EU has to be even more active on this front. The truth is that if Israel carries on this way, then the only option left would be a one-state solution. Would Israel then accept the democratic values that come as a result?

Israel needs to wake up and smell the coffee, and indeed so do we. Everyone wants to use the Palestinian cause for their own needs, including the extremists. This year, over 100 structures funded by the Commission and Member States have been demolished or confiscated, costing our taxpayers over EUR 400 000. What further diplomatic pressure will the High Representative put on Israel to change its current settlement policy? Will the EU implement the differentiation policy? Will you now heed the recommendations of the EU Head of Missions’ Reports on East Jerusalem and the West Bank? Ultimately, we need to revitalise the peace process – something we all agree on.