CHAPTER 6: THE EVENTS OF JUNE 2007
AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
162. The increasing hostilities in Gaza and the
West Bank, between Fatah and Hamas, the take-over of Gaza by Hamas
militias, the dismissal of the NUG and the declaration by President
Mahmoud Abbas of a state of emergency, all occurred after we had
completed taking evidence for this report. Clearly these developments
are, in the short term at least, going to complicate greatly any
effort to resume a Middle East Peace Process and to be a serious
delaying factor.
163. On 18 June 2007, the General Affairs and
External Relations Council condemned the coup by Hamas militias
in Gaza and called for the immediate cessation of all violence
and hostilities, including in the West Bank (see appendix No.
7). Among a number of measures, the Council supported the Arab
League's call for restoring Palestinian National unity and the
unity of Palestinian territory, and for ongoing efforts by the
Egyptian government to mediate a cease-fire. The EU supported
President Abbas and his decision to declare a state of emergency
and install an emergency government and re-stated that reconciliation
and national unity behind the President's programme of peace was
the only way to achieve Palestinian national goals. The EU would
do its utmost to ensure the provision of emergency and humanitarian
assistance to the population of Gaza including through the Temporary
International Mechanism which had been extended until September
2007. The Council reiterated its call on Israel for the immediate
release of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues[32].
The EU would resume normal relations with the PA immediately including
urgent practical and financial assistance.
164. There is a danger that the situation
will deteriorate rapidly and that the crisis will spread beyond
the Palestinian territories. In addition, events such as those
of June 2007 may be used, as they have often been used in the
past, as an excuse for inaction and neglect. We do not believe
the international community can afford yet again to repeat these
errors and should recognise an even greater urgency in seeking
a solution.
165. These recent events, in our view, reinforce
the overall conclusion of our report, that the EU now needs to
play a more active and imaginative role in the search for peace
in the Middle East than it has done in recent years; they underline
the importance of the main policy recommendations we have made.
Indeed our view is strengthened that the EU needs to increase
and sustain its effort to work more closely with all the main
players towards an inclusive peace process and settlement.
32 The situation changed following the events of June
2007 (see footnote 5 at para. 28). Back
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