Situation in Palestine

The European Parliament,

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

- having regard to the Middle East Quartet statement of 12 March 2010,

- having regard to the Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process of 8 December 2009 and of 13 December 2010,

- having regard to the Middle East Quartet statement of 23 September 2011 following the submission by President Abbas of the application for Palestine to become a United Nations Member State,

- having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas the EU has repeatedly confirmed its support for the two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, called for the resumption of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and declared that no changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties will be recognised;

B. Whereas the Palestinian National Authority has successfully implemented its state-building plan “Palestine: Ending occupation, Establishing the State”; whereas the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee Meeting (AHLC) held in Brussels on the 13th of April 2011 welcomed the assessment of the World Bank, the IMF, and the UN that the Palestinian Authority is above the threshold for a functioning state in the key sectors they studied, and that Palestinian institutions compare favorably with those in established states;

C. Whereas the ongoing process of occupation and colonisation in the West Banks is jeopardizing the prospect of the two state solution and has led to the suspension of peace negotiations;

D. Whereas September 2011has been identified as deadline for the conclusion of a framework agreement by the Quartet,

E. Whereas the Council stated in its Berlin Declaration in 1999 that it would recognize the State of Palestine in due course; whereas it reiterated its readiness in the Council Conclusions of 13 December 2010 to recognize, when appropriate, a Palestinian state;

F. Whereas on 23 September 2011 President Abbas submitted Palestinian application for UN full membership at the UN General Assembly; whereas the 15-member UN Security Council, whose approval is needed for UN membership and full recognition of statehood, should begin discussion on 26 September to take up this application;

G. Whereas the Arab spring which has spread to Israel renders more urgent the achievement of comprehensive peace in the Middle East which is in the fundamental interest of the parties, of all the peoples in the region and of the international community;

H. Whereas support for freedom, dignity, accountability and justice in the region should include support to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people;

I. Whereas the establishment of a Palestinian state serves international peace and security and allows to preserve the two state solution and sets ground for the resumption of peace negotiations in line with the Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process of 8 December 2009 and of 13 December 2010;

1. Reiterates its strong support for the two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders and Jerusalem as capital of both states, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security; supports therefore the application submitted by President Abbas to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 23 September 2011;

2. Calls on the EU and EU Member States to make all efforts so as to reach a common position in line with previous statements in support of the recognition of the State of Palestine on 1967 borders, including as regards Jerusalem, and its admission as full member in the UN;

3. Acknowledges and welcomes the success of state-building efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, which have been strongly encouraged and supported by the EU and endorsed by various international actors, and considers this a solid and reliable basis of Palestine readiness for sovereign statehood;

4. Calls for the immediate resumption of direct and serious peace talks, based on the internationally recognised parameters, including the 1967 borders, and a timetable agreed by both parties, as only a negotiated agreement between the two sides can bring lasting peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians; reminds that settlements are illegal under international law and are an obstacle to peace and calls therefore for a complete stop of settlement activities; stresses that no changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties should be accepted;

5. Stresses that just as Israel should recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, the new state should adopt the recognition of 1993 by the PLO of the state of Israel based on the 1967 borders and ensure its legitimate security concerns;

6. Takes note of the statement of 23 September 2011 of the Middle East Quartet which reiterates its urgent appeal to the parties to overcome the current obstacles and resume direct bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with the objective to reach an agreement within a timeline but not longer than the end of 2012; considers in this regard that the endorsement by all parties of its obligations under the Road Map and in particular, a complete stop of settlement activities by Israel is an indispensable step towards resuming effective and credible peace negotiations;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the President of the UN General Assembly, the Middle East Quartet Envoy, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council;