B4-0276, 0286, 0288, 0298, 0300, 0312 and 0323/94

Resolution on peace in the Middle East

The European Parliament,

A.deeply shocked at the arbitrary attack on Israeli citizens in broad daylight in Tel Aviv which killed 23 people and injured more than 40 others,

B.whereas this attack happened only a few days after the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli soldier,

C.whereas Hamas has claimed responsibility for both these acts of terrorism,

D.deeply concerned at the repercussions which this massacre might have on the peace process and on increasing tension in the region and aware that the motive of these terrorist acts is to kill the peace process,

E.whereas the PLO and Mr Arafat have strongly condemned these terrorist acts,

1.Expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the Israeli government and its solidarity with all those in the Middle East who have chosen the way of moderation and peace;

2.Condemns in the strongest terms all the extremist elements in the Middle East who are seeking to prevent the success of the peace process, and in particular the terrorist attacks by Hamas;

3.Recalls its support for the peace process and reasserts its desire to do everything in its power to contribute to that process;

4.Congratulates both parties on the accolade of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize;

5.Welcomes the peace agreement between Jordan and Israel signed on 26 October 1994; stresses the positive role of King Hussein in this process and hopes that the negotiations between Syria and Israel will also lead to an agreement;

6.Believes that the best way of relieving the frustration and disarming the extremists lies in the speedy implementation of the Declaration of Principles agreed between Israel and the PLO, since a solution to the Palestinian problem is inextricably bound up with a peace solution for the Middle East; calls, in particular, for the elections initially scheduled for October to go ahead;

7.Stresses in this respect that autonomy involves responsibility and believes therefore that responsibility for maintaining law and order in the West Bank and Gaza should rest entirely with the PLO;

8.Welcomes the announcement by the EC office in Amman that the Commission will propose that ECU 5 million should be provided in the next five years for technical assistance for economic projects in the countries which take part in the peace process, and calls for administrative obstacles to these projects and to aid for economic and social reconstruction on the West Bank and in Gaza to be kept to a minimum;

9.Repeats its request for a European conference on the Mediterranean to be organized as soon as possible with a view to drawing up specific proposals on contributing to peace in the region through economic development and cooperation;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Israel and the Palestinian authorities.