On the framework of the visit of a Joint Delegation of the EP to the Middle East, a meeting is organised with Israeli and Palestinian NGO's in Jerusalem. Statements by Hans-Gert PÖTTERING (PP, DE) and Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT).

statement

meeting

visit

EU - Israel (T)

EU - Palestine (T)

EP delegation

PANZERI, Pier Antonio (S&D, IT)

PÖTTERING, Hans-Gert (EPP, DE)

peace process in the Middle East (T)

Jerusalem

Joint Delegation to the Middle East: meeting with Israeli and Palestinian NGO's and statements by Hans-Gert PÖTTERING (PP, DE) and Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT)

SOUNDBITE (English), Hans-Gert P&#214;TTERING (EPP, DE), Chair of the EP Working Group for the Middle East, I think it was a very open meeting with the two members of the Knesset, one from the Labor party and the other one from the Kadima party and both of them were committed to the peace process, to have two states solution, Israel in safe borders, Palestine in safe borders. I said to our colleagues from the Knesset that we defend the security of Israel, but if we ask critical questions or we make critical comments to the concrete policy of a government, we cannot be identified as if we would not support Israel, we have to distinguish between these two aspects; we are defending the security of Israel but we are critical with some aspects of the present policy, like the settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem.

SOUNDBITE (English), Hans-Gert P&#214;TTERING (EPP, DE), Chair of the EP Working Group for the Middle East, It&rsquo;s very important very to tell the Palestinians that they have the same dignity like the Israelis and Israelis have the same dignity like the Palestinians. It&rsquo;s very important that violence does not play a role any more in the relation between Israel and Palestine. We want to support President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad with their ambition to build safe Palestinian state leaving peacefully with a safe state of Israel and we want to encourage them to continue this process.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Pier Antonio PANZERI (S&amp;D, IT), acting Chair of the AFET delegation, We have informed (to the Knesset) about the reasons of our visit, which is mainly to contribute to the peace process. There have been several issues at stake: the relations between the Knesset and the EP, that should create a positive framework for discussion, the informal meetings that are taking place for the re-launching of the peace process, the Israel security and the problem with Iran... We have also raised the issue about the current discussion at the Knesset concerning the NGOs. We in the EP are worried about the fact that NGOs would be considered as political associations by Israel, which we think is not accurate nor fair. We have reassured the Knesset that we will put on the table the fact that an Israeli soldier is still kidnapped in Gaza.

MEPs meeting with Palestinian and Israeli NGOs.