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	Paris, 31 décembre 2008



Statement by the European Union on the Situation in the Middle East



The Foreign Ministers or their representatives of the Member States of
the European Union, the High Representative for the CFSP and the
European Commission met on 30 December to discuss the situation in the
Middle East, following current tragic events in Israel and Gaza. This
meeting is part of the international community’s efforts, particularly
the Quartet and the Arab League, to find a solution to this crisis.

The European Union, conscious of the suffering and anguish of all
civilian populations, puts forward the following proposals to resolve
the crisis:

- Immediate and permanent ceasefire: there must be an unconditional halt
to rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and an end to Israeli military
action. 

 The cessation of fighting should allow lasting and normal opening of
all border crossings, as provided for in the 2005 Agreement on Movement
and Access. The European Union is ready to re-dispatch the EUBAM to
Rafah to enable its re-opening, in cooperation with Egypt, the
Palestinian Authority and Israel. It is also willing to examine the
possibility of extending its assistance to other crossing points,
provided that the issues relating to security have found a satisfactory
response. 

- Immediate humanitarian action: food, urgent medical aid and fuel
should be delivered to the Gaza Strip, the evacuation of the injured and
unhindered access of humanitarian workers should be made possible
through the opening of crossing points. The European Union, the leading
aid donor to the Palestinians, dispatched a field mission to provide the
most appropriate response as quickly as possible in cooperation with the
United Nations and NGOs.  It has also agreed to coordinate aid donated
by each Member State, in collaboration with the European Commission and
the outgoing and incoming presidencies. 

- Stepping up the peace process, as called for by Security Council
Resolution 1850. There is no military solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Gaza or elsewhere. The solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based on the process set out in
Annapolis and on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state
existing side by side with Israel in peace and security.  Work must be
carried out, notably on the basis of the Arab peace initiative, to deal
with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a comprehensive and operational
manner. Europe encourages the inter-Palestinian reconciliation behind
President Mahmoud Abbas, as called for by the Ministers of the Arab
League on 26 November, and supports the mediation efforts of Egypt and
the Arab League in this respect.

The European Union is more determined than ever to assist alongside the
other members of the Quartet and the region’s states in ending
violence and re-launching the peace process. In this respect, it has
been agreed that a European ministerial delegation will travel to the
region shortly.

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