By KUNA,
Paris : The EU foreign ministers or their representatives, the High Representative for the CFSP and the European Commission met here Tuesday evening to discuss the situation in the Middle East, following current tragic events in Israel and Gaza.
This meeting is part of the international community’s efforts, particularly the Quartet and the Arab League, to find a solution to this crisis.
In a statement issued following the meeting late Tuesday, the EU called for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire,” saying that “there must be an unconditional halt to rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and an end to Israeli military action.” The statement added that “the cessation of fighting should allow lasting and normal opening of all border crossings.” The statement said the EU “is more determined than ever to assist alongside the other members of the Quartet and the regions states in ending violence and re-launching the peace process.” It added that in this respect, it was agreed that a European ministerial delegation would travel to the region “shortly.” It affirmed the EU’s readiness to re-dispatch the EUBAM to Rafah to enable its re-opening, in cooperation with Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
It also expressed its willingness to examine the possibility of extending its assistance to other crossing points, provided that the issues relating to security had found a “satisfactory response.” The statement stressed that immediate humanitarian action — food, urgent medical aid and fuel — should be delivered to Gaza Strip, and that the evacuation of the injured and the unhindered access of humanitarian workers should be made possible through the opening of crossing points.
“The European Union, the leading aid donor to the Palestinians, dispatched a field mission to provide the most appropriate response as quickly as possible in cooperation with the United Nations and NGOs,” the statement added.
It noted that the EU had also agreed to coordinate aid donated by each member state, in collaboration with the European Commission and the outgoing and incoming presidencies.
The statement, moreover, stressed, “There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Gaza or elsewhere,” saying that the solution to this conflict had to be based on the process set out in Annapolis and on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel in peace and security.
It said that work had to be carried out, notably on the basis of the Arab peace initiative, to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a “comprehensive and operational manner.” “Europe encourages the inter-Palestinian reconciliation behind President Mahmoud Abbas, as called for by the Ministers of the Arab League on November 26, and supports the mediation efforts of Egypt and the Arab League in this respect,” the statement concluded.