The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the prospects of the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA groups and Members.
The EU has repeatedly confirmed its support for the two-state solution, with two sovereign, democratic states living side by side in peace and guaranteed security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. The situation on the ground, however, is incompatible with a peaceful solution with violence, terrorism, including attacks against civilians, and incitement to violence being exacerbated by provocative measures and inflammatory rhetoric. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has exacerbated the fragilities and geopolitical tensions in the region, and food insecurity is increasing drastically.
Deploring the lack of tangible results in the Middle East peace process in the past decades, Parliament urged both parties to restate their commitment to the two-state solution.
Obstacles to the two-state solution
Parliament called for:
- an end to the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupation of Palestinian territories through the resumption of genuine peace talks between both sides on the basis of the established parameters for the two-state solution, with the support of the international community, leading to a negotiated final status agreement and mutual recognition;
- an immediate end to the construction of illegal settlements;
- Israel’s full right to fight against acts of violence and its right to protect its civilian population;
- an immediate end to all acts of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, including the disproportionate use of force in military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces and terrorist attacks against innocent civilians and targeting civilian infrastructures;
- an immediate end to the blockade and for the easing of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip;
- EU funding to go to specific projects in Gaza, in line with the trilateral mechanism for financial support for civilians.
Parliament called for transparent, credible and inclusive elections to be held in Palestine and on Israel to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem.
The role of the European Union
The EU is called on to:
- set up a European peace initiative to restore a political horizon for fair, comprehensive, long-lasting peace between Israel and Palestine;
- extend the mandate of the EU Special Representative to be extended until the effective resolution of this long-lasting conflict;
- give priority to the shrinking space for civil society in both states;
- demand compensation for the demolition of all EU-funded infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories;
- support joint initiatives in the social and economic sectors, including in water and energy, to promote prosperity and social exchange between the two territories;
- support all initiatives to uphold accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law;
Lastly, Parliament welcomed the decision of the Foreign Affairs Council to relaunch the Association Council with Israel and for EU-Israel partnership to be strengthened.