EU CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTS PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE

Jakarta, 3 Muharam 1435/7 November 2013 (MINA) – A Law Faculty Professor of Ghent University, Belgium, Erwan Lannon stated European Union (EU) consistently supports Palestinian struggle against the Zionist Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Lannon stated it in a seminar themed “Global Governance: The Chalenge of Inclusive Multilateralism” in Jakarta, Thursday. In his speech, he delivered a topic: “The European Union and the Chalenges of Democratisation in the Arab World: The Need to Develop an Inclusive Multilateral Strategy”.

“The EU has been consistently supporting Palestinian struggle against the occupation. Israeli occupation must stop its settlement construction. It really violate international law and Human Right,” stated the professor.

Lannon argued that the best solution in solving Israeli-Palestinian conflict is by applying a two state solution. He is sure that with the two states exist in the region, democratisation can run well and everyone will live peacefully.

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The European Union (EU) Ambassador to ASEAN , H.E. Olof Skoog stated in a press conference informing the visit of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton in Jakarta, next November 4 ^th that “After Wednesday’s announcements by the Israeli Prime Minister’s officer and Ministry of the Interior about renewed plans for Israeli settlements, I would like to recall that, on 27 September, the Middle East Quartet called on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status issues.” .

The EU deplores the recent settlement announcements. Any actions that could hamper or undermine the on-going peace negotiations must be avoided. Bold and decisive leadership is needed for these negotiations to succeed. The EU will continue to support this process,” added the ambassador.

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The population in illegal West Bank settlements has grown twice. The figures show an increase of 7,700 illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank during the first six month of 2013 for a total settler population of 367,000.

This represents 2.1 percent increase in six months compared to an annual population growth of two percent registered in Israel. The figures released by the Israli occupation interior ministry are likely to add to Palestinian misgivings about resuming talks with the Israelis.

The talks broke down three years ago over the settlement issue. The number of illegal settlers in West Bank outposts that could be dismantled as part of an eventual agreement between Israel and the Palestinians rose by 1.7 percent in the first half of the year.

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The international community considers the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories illegal under international law, but Israel occupation authority maintains that they are consistent with international law because it does not agree that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to the territories occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War.

The United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Court of Justice and the High Contracting Parties to the Convention have all affirmed that the Fourth Geneva Convention does apply.

Numerous UN resolutions have stated that the building and existence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are a violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions in 1979 and 1980. (L/P04/P02/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)