Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún in GUE/NGL delegation to Palestine

GUE/NGL European Parliament group delegation to Palestine 8-11 July

‘End the occupation, recognition for Palestinian statehood’

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún

SPEAKING at the beginning of a GUE/NGL group delegation to Palestine that comes just two months in advance of a key UN General Assembly that will discuss Palestinian statehood, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, the Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that the MEPs were there to support and promote the objective of recognition of a Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967.

Our conference and visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank could not come at a more opportune time: during the biggest popular and peaceful uprising in the Arab world; in the aftermath of a most welcome reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian factions; only one day before an important conference of the Quartet; just one month before the already reached target which Prime Minister Fayyad set to complete state building; and only two months before the Palestinian Authority is set to submit the question of Palestinian statehood to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The seven MEPs from France, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Cyprus will meet with representatives of various political parties including members of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Knesset.

The delegation will also hear from experts, academics and activists about the devastating effects of the siege, settlements, the separation wall, and house demolitions and will discuss the responsibility of the EU for the just solution of the Palestinian problem.

GUE/NGL MEPs in Palestine 8-11 July

Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (Cyprus)

Bairbre de Brún (Ireland)

Patrick Le Hyaric (France)

Giorgios Toussas (Greece)

Joao Ferreira (Portugal)

Søren Søndergaard (Denmark)

Takis Hadgigeorgiou (Cyprus)