MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin called for the resumption of exports from Gaza as EU governments said a negotiated Middle East settlement “must allow” Israel and a Palestinian state to live side-by-side in peace and security.
In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Mr Martin said he backed proposals from his German and Finnish counterparts to boost the economy in Gaza and schooling for its children. Seen by The Irish Times, the letter said the lack of progress had left the population of Gaza in a completely dependent state and consolidated the position of extremists.
“While inflows of consumer and humanitarian goods may have improved, the substantive adjustments in Israeli policy required to allow economic activity in Gaza to resume in any meaningful way, and to facilitate the urgently needed reconstruction, have simply not happened,” the Minister wrote. “Resumption of exports is particularly critical, as is the removal of those restrictions on the importation of basic raw materials and allowing normal movement of persons for business and educational purposes.”
In “conclusions” adopted at their monthly meeting yesterday, EU foreign ministers said they wanted to see swift implementation by Israel of measures to facilitate exports. They also said Europe was ready to help efforts to improve crossings infrastructure with Gaza and to buy and install equipment for that purpose.
The EU meeting came as US envoy George Mitchell returned to the Middle East for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, a visit that follows Washington’s declaration that it is no longer pressing for a settlement freeze and will refocus efforts on a return to talks.
Mr Mitchell was last night meeting Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who said the US decision was good for his country and “good for peace”. On the other side, however, the Palestinians are demanding a definitive halt to settlement building before any more talks. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is expected to reiterate this position today when he meets Mr Mitchell.
A spokeswoman for Baroness Ashton said there was “no change regarding settlements” in the EU position. Ms Ashton said she spoke at the weekend with Mr Mitchell.
“He will be coming from his regional visit to Brussels specifically to debrief me and to discuss what next steps.
