Global Arab Network | Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly: build trust and freeze settlements in Jerusalem

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly: build trust and freeze settlements in Jerusalem

Monday, 15 March 2010 19:10

The stalled Middle East peace talks dominated the sixth plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), in Jordan (12-14 March). The Israeli policy of settlement building and the new housing projects in East Jerusalem were condemned as jeopardising the two-state solution. The EMPA also adopted its first operational budget and set up a permanent secretariat, according to a press release.

Middle East recommendations
An EMPA recommendation called on the Union of Mediterranean countries to come up with a time frame for establishing a Palestinian State, "possibly within 2 years", "comprising Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem".

Israel should freeze all settlement activities, says the Assembly. "The continuing expansion of settlements is destroying trust between the partners, undermining the authority of the Palestinian negotiators and prejudging the outcome of the final status negotiations." The Israeli delegation publicly expressed its reservations.

"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is casting a shadow over our meetings," said MEP Ivo Vajgl, who welcomed the presence of the Israeli delegation. "You don’t have to feel encircled, we are aiming at securing a prosperous Israeli state and the same goes for building a Palestinian state. Please convey to Israel why we are worried about the population of Gaza", he told the debate on the peace process.

Israeli troops break into Al-Aqsa Mosque

Heavy clashes erupted between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the old city of Jerusalem, eyewitnesses said .

The clashes came in the aftermath of the Israeli army braking into courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and forcefully evacuating worshippers, the eyewitnesses said, adding Jerusalemites rushed out of their homes soon after hearing the breaking in news and started throwing stones and empty bottles at the troops.

In retaliation, the troops fired live and rubber bullets at the crowd, which resulted in a number of injuries and arrests.
Jerusalem will witness a partial strike tomorrow Monday in protest against Israeli security procedures in the old city and the holy mosque.

Jewish radicals are also expected to lead a march tomorrow evening, in a provocative move countering the strike.

A few worshippers managed to reach the mosque despite security procedures by Israeli forces, the sources added.
The Israeli police were deployed around the mosque and the old city of Jerusalem upon intelligent information of confrontations to take place in the Holy mosque.

Global Arab Network

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network