Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-04-24-Speech-3-018"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20020424.3.3-018"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
". – I suspect that one of the less agreeable aspects of European civilisation is being debated outside!
I must repeat my grave concern about the destruction of the basic structures of the Palestinian Authority and military operations against Arafat. This weakens the powers of Palestinian Authority to enforce the rule of law, to rein in terrorists and to avert suicide bombings. It plays into the hands of, and increases support among the Palestinian population for extremist groups such as Hamas. The fight against terrorism cannot be used as a justification for the destruction of basic infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority.
(
I am also very concerned at the breakdown of general law and order. We have seen horrible events such as lynchings in the last few days. This must stop. It is only likely to stop, however, when Palestinians regain control in their areas.
Israeli military actions have not just targeted the security apparatus of the Palestinian Authority, they have systematically inflicted damage on civil infrastructure which has no security role whatsoever. What is the security objective of destroying the Ministries of Education, Finance, Agriculture, the Land Registry?
(
)
Why destroy the Central Statistics Bureau, or the Palestinian Legislative Council? This must be of great concern to the members of this House
Palestinians will have to rebuild large parts of their administration without which daily life cannot function in an orderly fashion.
The Commission is committed to supporting and rebuilding these structures. But our resources are already stretched to the limits. Once the needs assessment is done, we will come back to Parliament to inform you of the financial implications and to ask for your help in providing an appropriate response from the European Union. But, I repeat, you will have to ask us at that moment what the political context is in which we are seeking to rebuild what has been torn down.
I have lost count of the number of debates that I have taken part in on the Middle East over the last two and a half years. It is fair to say that in each debate the news has been grimmer then in the preceding debate. I just pray that one day I take part in a debate when things are getting better.
(
When in Europe we occasionally give other people lectures about human rights and civil liberties, we should sometimes bear that in mind.
I want to repeat that I am choosing these words with considerable care. Our commitment to consolidate the Palestinian Authority and to reconstruction, will need to be integrated within a wider political process including sufficient guarantees from both parties in the conflict that our efforts will not be wasted or destroyed.
You cannot rebuild the Palestinian Authority in a political vacuum.
(
)
Mr Peres told us yesterday that he supported a flourishing and modern Palestinian Authority. Some may think that Israel has found a strange way to express that support in recent weeks. But I hope that Mr Peres speaks for the Israeli Government, and that we will see his expressed view reflected in Israel’s attitude towards the aspiration to create a Palestinian State, and Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.
Even if it is still too early to assess the full extent of damage that has been inflicted, it is clear that there is also going to be a need for major reconstruction and rehabilitation work. The assessment of the need, which has only just begun, is urgent. It is already clear, however, that even short term needs will run into hundreds of millions of dollars. I expect that tomorrow's meeting of the international donor community in Oslo, the so-called Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, will help us to quantify the damages and begin to prepare a co-ordinated response by donors. I would just like to repeat what I have said already. To those who talk about Marshall aid for the Middle East, Marshall aid for the Palestinian territories, I say 'fine'. The important point about Marshall aid, however, was that it began when the bombing had stopped.
In my last point I would like to refer to full rehabilitation of Palestinian structures: There is also the need to fill the administrative and security vacuum in the wake of the Israeli withdrawal. The alternative is chaos and anarchy, which is not in anyone’s interest."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
"Sustained applause)"1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples