Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-12-12-Speech-3-522-000"
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"en.20121212.32.3-522-000"2
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"Mr President, last month, as we debated the situation in Gaza, there was a collective sigh of relief here when it was announced that there was a ceasefire. We expressed our strong support for the Palestinian bid for UN non-member-state observer status and, following that strong UN vote, it was hoped that it would provide an impetus for the resumption of peace talks.
But the Israeli Government’s decision to retaliate with plans for 3 000 new illegal settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem poses a real and immediate barrier to peace and is to be utterly condemned. This plan would completely destroy the two-state solution repeatedly endorsed by the EU and the international community. Moreover, the withholding of taxes due to the Palestinian Authority serves only to undermine the authority and position of President Abbas, who has constantly advocated non-violent means.
What is needed is clear. There should be an immediate and complete freeze of all settlement construction and expansion activities, and an end to evictions and house demolitions; the terms of the ceasefire should be fully implemented; the Gaza blockade should be lifted. Progress is also needed on internal Palestinian reconciliation but, most importantly, there is a need for the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations without pre-conditions.
While I welcome Monday’s Council conclusions calling for bold and concrete steps towards peace, the EU and the Member States must be prepared to take those bold and concrete actions. We must be visible, we must be strong, and we must implement existing EU legislation and uphold international law. Otherwise I fear that our fine words and resolutions will be dismissed as just restatements of the usual platitudes. Strong words need to be backed up by strong actions."@en1
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