Bahar calls on EU to support the Palestinian people, end Israeli aggression, European lawmakers leave Gaza

Bahar calls on EU to support the Palestinians, end Israeli aggression

Wednesday June 10, 2009 06:21 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agecnies

Acting head of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Dr. Ahmed Bahar, called on the European Union to support the Palestinian people, and not to deal with the Palestinian issue via the “Zionist standards”.

He called on the EU to pressure Israel in order to open all border terminals and to stop settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

His statements came as he welcomed European Parliamentarians visiting Gaza, and demanded them to practice pressure on Israel in order to release the imprisoned Palestinian legislators, mayors and officials.  

The acting PLC head said that Israel used illegal weapons against Palestinian civilians, such as White Phosphorus shells, and used women, men and children as human shields in addition to shelling homes, medical facilities, mosques, education facilities and UN facilities.

He added that the army targeted the infrastructure in Gaza, shelled bridges, streets and civil society institutions.

The visiting delegates also observed the damage caused by Israel’s shelling of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza city.

Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, stated that she was sorry for the destruction of the PLC, and the destruction to the homes and civilian facilities.

Morgantini added that she, and the delegates accompanying her, would act to lift the illegal Israeli siege, and would pressure the EU to take a stance against what ‘s happening in Gaza.

She also called for the release of all elected legislators and officials, and added that the International Community must respect the results of the Palestinian elections which were monitored by international observers and experts.

Official medical sources in Gaza reported that more than 1500 Palestinians were killed and at least 6000 others were wounded during the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

Hundreds of patients, most of them children, women and elderly, died due to the ongoing siege on the coastal region

European lawmakers leave Gaza early

Date: 10 / 06 / 2009  Time:  11:42
Gaza – Ma’an –

A delegation of 41 European parliament members left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday less than a day after they arrived in the war torn territory.

It is not known why the group led by Italian lawmaker Luisa Morgantini left immediately. The 15-nation delegation was expected to spend several days visiting devastated areas and meeting survivor’s Israel’s three-week assault last winter.

During their brief stay, the parliament members visited the ruins of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) building in Gaza City, which was leveled by an Israeli airstrike.

Arriving at the Egypt-controlled Rafah crossing point, Morgantini said the lawmakers had come to “express solidarity” with the people of Gaza and bear witness to the destruction.

Separately, the European Union’s High Representative for foreign policy, Javier Solana, arrived in the region on Wednesday for three days of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Solana has no plans to visit Gaza.

41 European parliamentarians enter Gaza to observe destruction

Date: 09 / 06 / 2009  Time:  15:38
Gaza – Ma’an –

Forty-one European Parliamentarians representing 15 countries headed by vice-president of the European Parliament Luisa Morgantini arrived in the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon via Rafah to continue dialogue with the people of the besieged area.

In April Morgantini spoke at the Bil’in Non-Violence Conference, and participated in the weekly anti-wall demonstration in the village. She has also lead efforts to bring European lawmakers together with Hamas members, and fostered dialogue between sides. A British effort saw a videoconference between MPs and Hamas leader in exile Khalid Mash’al, and several other mid-level meetings have been held.

Spokesperson of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing Adel Zu’rub said a Qatari delegation headed by Hessa Bint Khalifa, the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability at the UN Social Development Committee, will arrive in the Strip later Tuesday. The delegations will be observing the destruction and devastation from the Israeli war on Gaza, and the destitution of thousands unable to rebuild following the war.