11 February 1997       Doc. 7755

ADOC7755

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

for a social dimension of the Council of Europe's

contribution to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process

presented by Mr CHRISTODOULIDES and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly recalls Assembly Resolution 1103 (1996) on the situation in the Middle East: the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, in which it undertook to pursue its efforts to build confidence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, through meetings on specific issues, etc.

2.       During its meeting in Israel on 18 November 1996, the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee had exchanges of views in Jerusalem with members of the Knesset Committee on Welfare and Employment, and in Ramallah with members of the Committee on Education and Social Affairs of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

3.       The problems in the social sphere facing the Palestinians are numerous, complex and closely linked to the social and employment situation in Israel: high unemployment, difficulties for the Palestinian diaspora in obtaining work permits, lack of appropriate care as a result of the closure of the borders, inadequate health facilities, and so on.

4.       Bearing in mind the recent agreement on the crucial issue of Hebron, it seems to the Assembly that the time has come to make progress in the application of the Oslo agreements and to deal with the social problems directly affecting the Palestinian population. Helping to solve this is an additional guarantee of the establishment of a lasting peace.

5.       The Assembly calls on Council of Europe member states to play a part in the definition of the Palestinians' social problems and needs and of the assistance to be afforded to them, in order to strengthen the current Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Signed: 1

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Micheloyiannis, Greece, SOC

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP

Bársony, Hungary, SOC

Belohorska, Slovakia, EDG

Dinçer, Turkey, SOC

Nestor, Estonia, SOC

Małachowski, Poland, SOC

Arnau, Spain, SOC

Gusenbauer, Austria, SOC

Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Martínez, Spain, SOC

Weyts, Belgium, EPP

About, France, LDR

1 ¹       SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People's Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: Not registered