exchange of views

PÖTTERING, Hans-Gert (EPP, DE)

peace process in the Middle East (T)

HESSEL, Stéphane (FR)

Working group on Middle-East: extracts from the exchange of views with Stéphane HESSEL, Ambassador, co-writer of the Universal declaration of Human Rights

Hans-Gert Pottering, Chair of the EP Working Group on the Middle East and St&eacute;phane Hessel, arrival and installation.

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: I think we've been very nice to our ally and friend the State of Israel and that we haven't been very watchful when it comes to the violations committed by that State in respect with its Palestinian neighbours and sometimes even in respect of its Arab citizens; those violations have remained unpunished for too long".

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: "When you go and you have a look around and you see what's happening in Gaza, in Jerusalem, homes being destroyed, when you see what's happening behind the wall there, where the Palestinian farmers can't access their land because there is a wall separating them from it, you can't help to get upset and one tends to voice it".

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: "I think it is a key problem in relation with other troubled spots in the world and recent developments in Tunisia and other countries prove it".

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: "I think that now there is this revival from the people, they want to live democratic lives and want to do away with the despots; they have shown extraordinary courage and they have managed to get rid of the people who were oppressing them; that is something totally new and we have to give a due credit".

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: "Quite often we consider Islam to be a religion which is at the same time a political concept as well as a religion and we can't imagine states which are at the same time Muslim and secularist, but we are wrong, there is one in particular which has the largest number of Muslims in the world, Indonesia".

SOUNDBITE (French) St&eacute;phane Hessel: "The best outcome of my generation is to have created the EU. But we didn't finish the job, I do agree on the fact that we have a Europe more politically united than it was&hellip; but can we consider for example Ms Ashton as a genuine representative of a politically united strong Europe?".