Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-12-12-Speech-3-152"
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"en.20011212.4.3-152"2
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". – Mr President, I will first of all respond to the characteristically direct question from Mrs van der Laan. We have done a calculation of the damage so far to our projects. There are nine projects in all which have been damaged in one way or another. The very approximate loss estimation is EUR 2.289 million with, for example, EUR 60 000 also lost with the bombing of the forensic laboratory which we had provided. There was also some support from the Israeli Government to try to help the Palestinian security forces. Those figures are extremely approximate. If you think of the investment that has gone from Europe to the West Bank and Gaza over the years to try to establish decent services, to try to help in the creation of a potential viable state, the loss is incalculable. That is the chartered accountant's balance sheet so far and I hope it does not get any worse.
Perhaps I can just add one or two points in relation to the debate. The honourable Member, Mr Poos, who does not use words lightly – he knows about these matters very well – described the situation as catastrophic and that is not too strong a word. My honourable and gallant friend General Morillon reminded us of the consequences in the Balkans of intransigence. Mr Lagendijk and Mrs Morgantini and others spoke about the moving speeches that we had heard this morning about the sacrifice of the next generation because the present generation cannot find a way of living peacefully together. I suppose that when people can behave with that extraordinary resilience and courage and moderation, there is still some hope for the region. My friend, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Brok, has said that the aim was that the three great religions that we saw represented here this morning should be able to live one day in the holy city in peace together which, in the words of an English poet, is "a consummation devoutly to be wished".
I would just say one thing to Mr Belder – and I say it very gently and not critically because people are entitled to their own passions – and that is that I am not sure I share his view of balance. I will tell you what my idea of balance is.
On Monday of this week a number of Palestinian and Israeli parliamentarians and intellectuals met at the Qalandia checkpoint to emphasise "the urgent need to continue dialogue between the two sides", even when this is the only venue where it is possible to do so. They argued that these meetings are especially important in the light of the escalation of violence through the past week which they said is threatening to drag their whole region into war. If an immediate halt to the current cycle of violence is not achieved, the situation may spiral out of control, perhaps with irreversible consequences.
A group, including Yossi Beilin, the former Minister for Justice and one of the architects of the Oslo process, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, the Minister of Information and Culture in Palestine, argued that ending the current crisis entails the immediate abandonment of violence as a political tool and the unconditional implementation of the Tenet work plan and Mitchell report. This requires immediate steps, including prevention and punishment of terrorist acts, the lifting of the closure on and withdrawal from the Palestinian areas and putting a stop to the policy of assassinations. Settlement activity – they argued – is not compatible with an honest move to de-escalation and the pursuit of peace. It must be halted. Incitement in all its forms, both official and unofficial, cannot coexist with rebuilding a climate of trust and non-violence. It must be ended. We clearly state that under no circumstances should the Palestinian Authority or its presidency be harmed or targeted if a way out of this crisis is to be found.
I will tell you what I believe the European Union should be doing. As long as there are any moderates on the two sides – in Israel and the Palestinian Authority – we should be there supporting them, supporting their courage, toleration and decency. That is a balanced European Union policy. I would say "Hosanna", in suitably biblical form, to all the sentiments expressed in that joint statement. I pray to God that in three, six or nine months' time there are still some moderates left with the bravery and courage to offer a better prospect for the future of the region."@en1
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