B4-0733, 0734, 0735, 0736, 0738 and 0739/95

Resolution on the Middle East peace process and the elections in the Occupied Territories

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the Middle East and the role of the European Union in the peace process,

A.reaffirming its commitment to the Middle East peace process and its determination to make as great a contribution to it as possible,

B.recalling that the European Union aims to develop a Euro-Mediterranean partnership in which both Israel and the Palestinian National Authority are invited to take part,

C.acknowledging all those who have chosen the path of peace in the Middle East and wishing to provide them with all the support needed to bring the process to a successful conclusion,

1.Stresses the urgent need to implement the declaration of principle of 13 September 1993 by means of actual, visible deeds;

2.In this connection, considers it essential for elections to be held as a matter of urgency in the Occupied Territories, particularly in Gaza and Jericho, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Cairo Agreements of 4 May 1994;

3.Stresses that the holding of free and fair elections will confer on the Palestinian Authority thus elected the full democratic legitimacy which is essential if tensions are to be eased and will therefore help to ensure that all the agreements concluded are successfully implemented;

4.Welcomes the aid already granted by the Union to the Palestinian Authority during the preparatory stage of the elections and calls for the Union to respond positively to the request for observers to be sent to monitor the electoral process whilst continuing to supply aid to ensure that the elections go ahead, in particular via the European Centre for the Promotion of Democracy as provided for in budget heading B7-522;

5.Stresses that, in addition to the support for the elections in the Occupied Territories, Union aid to create jobs and ensure that the Palestinian Authority operates satisfactorily by reducing its dependence on the Israeli labour market continues to be essential if the peace process is to be brought to a successful conclusion;

6.Asks the Commission and the Council to stress to the Israelis and Palestinians that their participation at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference is a major opportunity for their involvement in peaceful regional integration;

7.Welcomes the decision by Israel to release a number of Palestinian prisoners, a factor which will also help to ease the situation, and calls for this measure to be extended to other Palestinian political prisoners;

8.Expresses deep concern at the decisions by the Israeli Government to expropriate several dozen hectares of land belonging to Palestinians in East Jerusalem in order to build housing as part of the settlements policy; considers that this policy is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Cairo Agreements and represents a genuine obstacle to the implementation of the peace process; calls therefore on the Israeli Government to review this decision;

9.Welcomes any commitment from President Arafat to take strong action against terrorists who jeopardize the peace process and wishes to encourage him in his efforts to maintain order in the territories under his authority, at the same time condemning those who incite hatred and violence, particularly amongst the Hamas and the Islamic Jihad; calls on the European Union and its Member States to exert all possible pressure on the governments of the region to persuade them to stop providing assistance to the terrorists;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Secretary-General of the Arab League.