Brussels, 30/01/08, 

"Three issues challenge us on the subject of the situation in Gaza" - Francis Wurtz declared on behalf of the GUE/NGL group during the opening of the European Parliament's plenary session today to justify his request for a debate and a resolution on Gaza: 

 -      "the Gaza blockade: this collective punishment is both an unacceptable fear on a humanitarian level, totally counter-productive on a political level and ineffective on the level of security for Israel;
 
 -       the new element which came about with the opening of the Rafah border crossing, by the population in Gaza;

 -        finally and above all the European response to the issue: what now?

How do we go about maintaining this opening in a stable and controlled way and how to integrate this development in a global peace process."

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 Speech by Francis Wurtz during the debate on Gaza

"The heroes of Gaza .... have proven once again that no fortified wall can imprison the free spirit of humanity and no form of violence can subdue life."  These words were spoken by Ms Nurit Peled, an Israeli peace activist and Sakharov prize-winner, last Saturday in the middle of other demonstrators, both Palestinians and Israelis, at the gates of Gaza.

How is it possible not to share the emotion of this Mother Courage in face of the spectacle offered by these people, who are unbearably oppressed and humiliated and are forcing the blockade imposed by Israel and finally breathing the air outside, for the time it takes to find milk for the children, food for the family and a little happiness to raise their morale!

So what now? Everyone can see the double danger that is emerging on the Israeli leaders' side. The first is the determination to close once again - or to force the closure of this small area of freedom. The second, more generally, is that of shifting the burden of responsibility of the occupying power regarding Gaza onto Egypt. If the - just - words of the Declaration by the Council at its meeting on 28 January are to have concrete scope, the European Union has to agree to exert on the Israeli authorities, directly and in the framework of the Quartet, pressure exceeding its usual ambiguous beating around the bush  so that they accept the principle of a sustainable opening of this border crossing point, under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority, and with the support of the European Union and the Arab League.

If the Palestinian Authority continues to be deprived of all the necessary means of providing any positive outcome to its people and to work towards the necessary Palestinian national reconciliation, this would amount to accepting the policy of the worst. Up to now, I fear that we are not making great progress! We all understand that there now must be a kick-start by the international community: on Gaza, on the West Bank, and also on East Jerusalem. This kick-start will not come from a worn-out and discredited American President. It is up to Europe now!

GUE/NGL press officer

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