Maginness: EU Must Assert Itself on Middle East

Friday 9 January 2009

SDLP European candidate Alban Maginness MLA said the EU has got to assert its own role on Middle East issues in general and a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine in particular.

He said: "The current conflict in Gaza demonstrates the total failure of the policy of playing second fiddle to the Americans. Lack of progress by the so-called Quartet and the disgraceful partisanship of the Bush regime - and indeed the Blair-Bush Axis - played into the hands of Hamas and put them into power in Gaza by sidelining the Palestinian Authority. The direct outcome is rockets into Israel and the massacre of the innocents in Gaza.

"The whole US political system is partisan on this issue and that will not change on the short term. The current conflict will be the great test of the Obama administration's desire to engage with the world. We in the EU must assert our right to help shape a new relationship with the US, and in order to do that we must have our own clear stance on the Middle East.

"It should not be necessary to say that we reject the terrorism practised by Hamas and other groups. But Israel is an occupying power in Palestine and has clear duties under Geneva Conventions. It is not living up to them. It is in breach of numerous UN resolutions, including one this week calling for an immediate ceasefire. Almost 800 people are dead in Gaza and there are serious allegations of what amount to war crimes from both the Red Cross and UN relief agencies.

"We must say very clearly that the EU rejects these actions and will not accept them. We must say very clearly that there cannot be a military solution to the problem of Hamas which, like it or not, has an electoral mandate. We must say that there must be a two-state solution as soon as possible and that Palestinians have just as much right to safety and security in their homes and streets as Israelis.

"The EU is about to extend and expand its association agreement with Israel. In addition to the special access to European markets which it already enjoys, Israel would also get access to EU funding. It is proper to ask whether we should proceed in the light of what has happened over recent weeks. Certainly, if the Gaza attacks and deaths continue, if the vicious blockade of Gaza continues, if the Israelis continue to target schools and ambulances, we will be forced to re-evaluate the relationship between the EU and Israel.

"We must insist that the Obama administration use all its influence - and that influence is very great indeed - to get the Israelis to move forward, and we should not be unduly constrained in our demands by American electoral sensitivities. The Israelis must accept the territorial integrity of Palestine and remove their divisive wall. They must either remove their settlements on land seized from Palestinians or negotiate the future of settlers as equal citizens of Palestine. They must accept reasonable negotiated settlements of other issues such as the status of Jerusalem and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

"The EU is the major donor to the Palestinian territories and vast amounts of European taxpayers' money have gone to repair vital infrastructure destroyed by Israeli bombing, only to see it bombed again. The simple truth is that EU-financed schools and factories and roads are being destroyed again by US-financed munitions. This cycle must stop. The best weapon against Hamas is hope."

ENDS

Further information:
Alban Maginness MLA 07890 878955
Or SDLP Press Office 028 9052 1837