B3-0298, 0302, 0313, 0323 and 0329/94

Resolution on the Middle-East peace process

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on the peace process in the Middle East,

A.deeply shocked by the massacre perpetrated in the City of the Patriarchs in Hebron on Friday, 25 February 1994,

B.profoundly alarmed at the impact this tragedy may have on the peace process and the fact that it may exacerbate tension in the Occupied Territories,

C.alarmed also by the outbreaks of fanaticism which ensued on both sides and by the repressive measures taken by the Israeli armed forces which have claimed more lives and left scores of people wounded,

D.noting the regret expressed by Prime Minister Rabin and the highly responsible attitude displayed by Mr Arafat, and welcoming the large 'Peace now - Shalom achshaw' demonstration held in Tel Aviv,

E.recalling that the Declaration of Principle refers to a temporary international or foreign presence to be agreed between Israel and the PLO in the Gaza/Jericho Agreement,

F.insisting that the establishment of peace between Israel and her neighbours on the basis of security for Israel and of justice for the Palestinians is in everybody's interest,

G.welcoming the efforts of President Clinton to ensure the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the PLO,

1.Expresses its heartfelt solidarity with the families of the victims and with the injured;

2.Emphasizes the need to achieve peace and a lasting and equitable solution to the Middle-East conflict as rapidly as possible through the prompt application of the Declaration of Principle concluded between the PLO and Israel on 13 September 1993;

3.Reaffirms its wholehearted support for the current peace process and its wish to contribute in any way possible to its successful conclusion, in particular by promoting regional cooperation and strengthening its relations with the peoples of the region;

4.Reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of extremism, and calls for the most stringent measures to be taken against all those who jeopardize the peace negotiations by their acts of violence;

5.Welcomes the measures taken by the Israeli Government to prevent similar acts of terrorism but recognizes that further steps will have to be taken if the confidence of the Palestinians in the value of negotiations with Israel is to be restored, and therefore calls upon the Israeli authorities to deal firmly with any provocative action by armed settlers;

6.Reaffirms its belief that all the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the obligations of an occupying power should be fully respected in all the territories which came under Israeli administration in 1967;

7.Calls on the Israeli Government to take measures to dismantle certain Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories which are not covered by the Declaration of Principle, a step which may contribute to reducing tension locally, although this cannot be a substitute for an overall solution to the settlements problem;

8.Calls for the questions of Jewish settlements and an international presence in the Occupied Territories to be placed on the agenda for the negotiations;

9.Considers that, in the interests of both parties, international monitoring measures should be taken to ensure security and respect for human rights in all the Occupied Territories, and calls on the Council and the Commission to offer their good offices to further the wider negotiating process;

10.Calls for the peace negotiations to be resumed immediately and for all possible measures to be taken to achieve that objective and therefore calls on the Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian governments to resume negotiations with Israel;

11.Instructs its Delegation for relations with the PLO to visit the Occupied Territories without delay;

12.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-General and the participants in the peace negotiations.