Doc. 9568 2ème édition

9 October 2002

Situation in the Middle East

Written Declaration No. 341

2nd edition, originally tabled on 25 September 2002

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly, express their deepest concern due to the dangerous deterioration of the situation around the Palestinian territories. Actions by Israeli armed forces that have already caused new casualties among Palestinian civilians and huge damage in the living areas, as well as the blockade of Mr Yasser Arafat, the Head of the Palestinian National Authority, are not acceptable and must be stopped immediately. They also strongly condemn the terrorist attacks by kamikazes targeted at the civilian population of Israel, and appeal to the responsible leaders of the Palestinian organisations not to allow such actions by their members.

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly, support the project aimed at a comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement, proposed by “the Quartet” and definitely declare, that the active Palestinians’ actions to combat terrorism and the appropriate accommodating steps by Israel, including troop withdrawals to the positions at the date of 28 September 2000, are the priority conditions to start the implementation of the above-mentioned plan.

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly, call upon the representatives of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to demonstrate their political will and responsibility by aiming at the immediate cessation of acts of violence and renewal of the dialogue.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : 1

Margelov, Russia, EDG

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Branger, France, EPP

Chaklein, Russia, UEL

Cilevičs, Latvia, SOC

Elo, Finland, SOC

Gamzatova, Russia, UEL

Gostev, Russia, UEL

Ivanov, Estonia, LDR

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Pangalos, Greece, SOC

Prisăcaru, Romania, SOC

Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Rogozin, Russia, EDG

Shakhtakhtinskaya, Azerbaijan, EDG

Slutsky, Russia, SOC

Sudarenkov, Russia, SOC

Yarygina, Russia, SOC

Ziuganov, Russia, UEL

Kilclooney, United Kingdom, EPP

______________________

Total = 22

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: 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 in a group