“The French NGO’s Platform for Palestine strongly condemns the arrest of Palestinian elected officials by the Israeli army on May 24th”

Paris, July 5 2007

European Union aid to the Palestinian Authority must contribute to the unity of the Palestinian people.
After the European Union’s decision to resume direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine appeals to France and the European Union to :

– Pay heed to the deepest hopes of Palestinian society for unity ; this should be the priority in all their initiatives. Thus, the return to direct aid should not serve as a tool for a policy of division but rather to reinstate the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza strip by political rapprochement so as to benefit the whole population ;

– Act firmly and with courage to ensure the immediate end of the blockade of the Gaza strip, blockade that can only make the humanitarian crisis even more serious ;

– Promote a substantial diplomatic initiative that can lead to negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the basis of the Mecca initiative and in liaison with the Arab League.

The present European stance reveals the contradictions that seem to have been at the basis of European decisions ever since the Oslo Agreements. Though the European Union supported and assisted the construction of a Palestinian state both politically and financially, it sat back and watched the creation of the obstacles that made this more and more conjectural. Civil society as well as many United Nations and World Bank reports day after day voiced their concern over the consequences of the blockades created by the Israelis, the building of settlements, the Wall, the creation of over 600 barrages and check points that were leading to the complete paralysis of Palestinian economy.
European reactions to the victory of Hamas in the January 2006 elections brought these contradictions to a head. The boycott of the Palestinian government that was set up after these elections and the withholding of direct aid have led to a serious breakdown of Palestinian institutions that Europe had helped to create during more than 10 years.

The organization of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) on June 16 2006 aimed at reducing the negative consequences of the suspension of direct aid. However, this mechanism did not put an end to the rapid deterioration of the living conditions of the population. By supporting the presidency directly and turning its back on the executive branch, it has increased the radicalization and the internal tension and has led to the present split between the Gaza strip and the West Bank. By the organization of the TIM, the European Union has placed humanitarian aid above its long-term political objectives for the region.

Press contact, Maxime Guimberteau, 01-40-36-41-46. pfpalest@club-internet.fr