Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-04-09-Speech-2-193"

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"en.20020409.8.2-193"2
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"Mr President, the nightmare in the Middle East never ends. While we stand here and debate, there is an orgy of violence and killing. As you hear, Mr Solana and Mr Patten, we all feel incredibly powerless, disgusted and frustrated. The suicide attacks are preventing Israelis from being able to move about freely. Having a cup of coffee with a friend or shopping for food involves mortal danger. The fear of new attacks has a paralysing effect, of course. The European Parliament has condemned the terrorist attacks on countless occasions and urged Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to do everything in their power to stop them and to counter the hatred now also being spread to the Israelis. Violence also prevails for the Palestinians on the West Bank and in Ramallah, with hundreds of Palestinians dead, among them many children. Those of us who are friends of Israel, those of us who defend the Israeli state and its right to exist must react vigorously when the military and the government act as they do. The escalated violence and brutality of the occupation is quite disproportionate. A whole world is now united in demanding that Israel withdraw from the Palestinian areas. Its action is indefensible, and the attacks against Palestinian civilians will lead to more, not fewer, suicide bombers. The violent offensive and the killing can never lead to peace. If Israel is at war, as Sharon has stated, there are certain international conventions and laws which apply. Now, reports are flooding in that these are being violated. We do not know this with any certainty because no organisations or media are permitted in the area. Our fellow MEPs tell us that ambulances are not allowed to get through, either. The hatred between Sharon and Arafat is bitter and long-standing. It seems as if the parties can no longer escape from the situation. Comprehensive international commitment and a clear list of demands are therefore needed. It is good that the United States has stepped up its commitment and finally sent Colin Powell to the region. The EU too must do more, however. At the meeting on Monday, the ministers must ask themselves what we can do. An immediate weapons embargo? Yes. Obviously, the Association Agreement must be discussed. I do not believe that, in the present situation, this would be the right moment to suspend it, but the matter must be discussed. It must be possible for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, side by side. There would be no more important contribution to world peace and the international fight against terrorism than if this conflict were to be resolved."@en1

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