Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-13-Speech-3-066"
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"en.20041013.4.3-066"2
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"Mr President, the Israeli defence forces are currently continuing with the largest incursion into Gaza since the beginning of the Intifada and death tolls are continuing to rise. Some estimates have suggested that at least half of the hundreds of the Palestinians killed have been civilians. The actions of the Israeli army are simply disproportionate and this is a view that is shared by Kofi Annan, the EU foreign ministers and many more.
I cautiously welcome Prime Minister Sharon's announced intention of complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, but there are a number of conditions that must be met in the context of future Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. This withdrawal must take place in the context of the Quartet's roadmap agreement. It must be a step in a two–state solution. It must not involve a transfer of settlement activity to the West Bank. There must be an organised and negotiated handover of responsibility to the Palestinian Authority. Israel must also facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza.
The bottom line is simply this: the roadmap remains the mostly likely framework within which to achieve a resolution to the Israel–Palestine conflict. The members of the international Quartet, namely the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations, are all committed to this roadmap plan. However, the current cycle of violence is causing widespread suffering and this is taking the parties even further away from a negotiated settlement. The most important step is for both sides to desist from further acts of violence.
Leadership is needed on both sides, and that is not easy. I am an Irish Member of the European Parliament and we in Ireland know how difficult that can be. We know only too well the cycle of violence, the tit–for–tat, the eye for an eye. But we also know only too well the enormous benefits that accrue to everyone when violence ends and real negotiation and dialogue take place.
That takes courage on both sides. I believe we should be asking both sides in this conflict to have this courage and show their leadership. It is not easy to be in a situation of leadership, it takes a lot of courage. I often feel that in this conflict, courage is not being shown. As I said, we who come from Ireland know the benefits that can accrue for the people of the Middle East if courage and leadership are shown by the people there."@en1
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