MEPs travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories
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11. Dezember 2023 In Aktuell, Allgemein, EN

MEPs travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories

MEPs call on the EU to unite and support a renewed commitment to a two-state solution as the only means for achieving lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

A delegation of the Security and Defence Subcommittee travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories from 8-10 December.

The delegation led by Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, FR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, and by Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE), held discussions with Palestinian and Israeli authorities, and Palestinian civil society and international partners. The MEPs travelled to the Kfar Azza kibbutz, listened to the very moving testimonies of Israeli families of hostages and joined their call for their immediate and unconditional return home.

MEPs came to show their solidarity with the victims of Hamas’s despicable crimes as well as with innocent Palestinians suffering the consequences in Gaza and the West Bank. They started their visit in Ramallah in the West Bank to underline that nothing positive can happen if there is not a renewed political effort to reform the Palestinian Authority and build a strong Palestinian state.

MEPs visited the EU’s two CSDP Missions for the Palestinian Territories – EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah, which are working in partnership with Israel and Palestinian authorities. They urged them to continue the good cooperation and prepare for an enhanced role for the missions the “day after” the war ends, and stressed that the EU needs to maximise the potential of its CSDP missions on the ground. MEPs called for the revival and adaptation of the EUBAM mandate for the EU to be more actively involved.

MEPs welcomed the latest agreement to open the Kerem Shalom crossing point for security inspection and called for further steps at the crossing to increase the flow of aid into Gaza.

Following the visit, Ms Nathalie Loiseau said: “We have come to the West Bank and to Israel to express the European Parliament’s solidarity with both the Palestinian and the Israeli people who face a terrible situation. Hamas committed atrocities and launched a war against Israel. The suffering is massive on both sides. All hostages must be released immediately. Terrorist groups must be defeated. Humanitarian assistance needs to enter more quickly in the Gaza Strip. Violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank must stop. And efforts towards peace and a political solution must start as soon as possible. The European Union is the bad weather friend both of Israeli and Palestinian people and is here to help goodwill initiatives.”