After the terrorist attack against Israel by Hamas on 8th October, MEPs discuss and condemn this act of terrorism and hatred during an extraordinary AFET committee meeting. Extracts of the arrival and the exchange of views on the terrorist attack against Israel and the consequences in the region. David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), gives a statement after the meeting, reaffirming the EU support to Israel.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

statement

EU - Israel (T)

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

Exchange of views on the terrorist attack against Israel, the response and the consequences in the region: arrivals and statement by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET

Arrivals to the extroardinary meeting and roundtable (6 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET, We had about a 90 minutes extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee here in the European Parliament. We had invited representatives of the European External Action Service and DG Near from the Commission, to inform us about the current state of play. At the beginning of this in-camera meeting, I gave the floor to the Israelien Ambassador and colleagues accross political lines showed and expressed full solidarity with Israel in times of these brutal outrages terrorist attacks. We showed solidarity with Israel and expressed our condoleances to all the Israel people who are moaning the losses of their beloved. And, we've also underlined that Israel has its rights to self-defense, which is underlined in the International Law.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET, It was an in-camera meeting so I can't talk about the content. But I can say that colleagues raised a number of questions, what does this terrorist attack on Israel mean for us in the European Union, what does this mean for our relations with third-countries who are obviously supporting the terrorist activities of Hamas, what does this mean for the funding the EU provides to the Palestinan authorities. Many issues were discussed. I think that it was important today that we conveine this meeting, to express our solidarity with Israel. We will have further debates in the EP. I'm very sure that this will be a debate in the plenary next week in Strasbourg. Also, I'm working behind the scenes for the next high-level dialogue with the High-Representative, so that we can put these very urgent questions on the table.