MEPs in West Bank and East Jerusalem with Martina Anderson MEP call for action to end Israeli occupation

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

Serious concerns remain with the over 5,000 Palestinians still languishing in Israeli prisons. At the same time as the prisoner release, Israeli authorities announced the building of 1,500 new illegal settlement units

AN EU delegation including Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson left the Palestinian Territories on Wednesday after a three-day human rights and fact-finding visit with a call for Palestinian elections and EU action to accelerate an end to the Israeli occupation.

The visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem followed Israel’s refusal to allow the MEPs entry to Gaza through its blockade even though the visit had the full support of Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament.

Martina Anderson described the Israeli action as “deplorable”.

During the visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the MEPs met with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Minister for Detainees Issa Qarage among others, including UN and aid agencies.

Speaking from the West Bank, Martina Anderson said:

“From what we have seen, we believe that Israel is ignoring its duty as an occupying power in breach of the Oslo Accord of 1993.

“Settlement construction in the Palestinian territories, settler violence against Palestinians and their property, the forcible displacement of communities, the seizure of the most economically-productive lands in the West Bank (all adapted from the practice perfected by Britain in her colonies, including the Plantations in Ireland), and the absence of a fair and transparent planning system are preventing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.”

She added that the Israeli occupation is obstructing the development of a sustainable economy in Palestine, making it even further dependent on aid.

“The delegation also expressed their serious concern at the treatment of the Bedouin community which is being forcibly removed to pave the way for the massive E1 Settlement which, if constructed, would render the ‘two states solution’ impossible.”

Recognising the necessity for Palestinian unity to achieve a real and lasting solution and an end to the Israeli occupation, the delegation called for early elections across the Palestinian Territories, including West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

The Derry-based Sinn Féin MEP was also present with some of the other delegation members at a homecoming reception in Ramallah for 26 political prisoners.

“While there was celebration, all thoughts and serious concerns remain with the over 5,000 Palestinians still languishing in Israeli prisons,” Martina pointed out.

“At the same time as the prisoner release, Israeli authorities announced the building of 1,500 new illegal settlement units, which questions the genuineness of the Israeli authorities to engage constructively in the peace negotiations.”

• (Below) Irish MEPs Martina Anderson (GUE/NGL) and Emer Costello (S&D) with colleagues Margrete Auken (Greens), Norbert Neuser, (S&D), Sir Robert Atkins (ECR) and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Minister for Detainees Issa Qaraqe