By Tito Drago
MADRID, Apr 10 2002 (IPS)

The European Union (EU), United States, Russia and the United Nations are demanding a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, an immediate ceasefire and an end to violence by both sides.

The joint declaration, read in the Spanish capital Wednesday by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, does not recommend the concrete measures for the Palestinian question sought by non-governmental organisations or the European Parliament, such as trade and political sanctions.

The document bears the signatures of Annan and of Spanish and Russian Foreign Ministers, Josep Piqué and Igor Ivanov, respectively, of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and of the EU’s Foreign Policy Commissioner Javier Solana.

The European Parliament on Wednesday urged the European Council and Commission, the EU’s executive body, to suspend the trade and cooperation agreement that grants Israel trade preferences from the 15-member bloc.

The resolution, approved with 269 votes in favour, 208 against and 22 abstentions, proposes an arms embargo against Israel and Palestine, and asks the EU, Russia, United States and the UN to send an international peacekeeping and monitoring force to the Middle East, with the UN in charge of the effort.

The Ubuntu Forum, presided by former UNESCO chief Federico Mayor Zaragoza and consisting of civil society networks and international personalities, issued its own declaration calling on the UN, EU, United States, Russia and the Arab League – “the key actors in the conflict” in the Middle East” – to not lose another minute in the search for effective solutions.

Spanish minister Piqué said the results of Powell’s Friday visit to the zone of conflict should be known before considering such measures. The U.S. official is slated to meet with Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestine National Authority.

“Today it is premature to go beyond” what is included in the declaration, said Piqué.

Powell, considered the most dialogue-friendly member of President George W. Bush’s cabinet, told the press conference in which Annan read the declaration of the so-called “Quartet” of powers, that it is not possible to know what is really happening in the conflict without having access to it.

In an indirect comment on human rights abuses in the occupied territories, Annan said, “too many independent reports are being received not to believe them.”

He said that what is occurring in the Palestinian territories is “morally repugnant” and unjustifiable, and said attacks against innocent people and unarmed civilians is unacceptable and constitutes terrorism.

The Quartet’s document begins by stating that the signatories have agreed to coordinate their actions to aid in resolving the current crisis in the Middle East.

They warn about the “increasing threat to regional security,” a concern that is growing daily throughout Europe and the Arab countries. “The conflict should not be allowed to spread and threaten regional security and stability,” says the text.

The UN, EU and Russia made explicit in the joint declaration their “firm support for the mission” led by Powell and urged Israel and the Palestine National Authority to cooperate with him.

“There is no military solution to this conflict,” state the signatories of the declaration and demand that the conflicting parties adhere to the principle of territorial peace, “the basis of the 1991 Madrid Conference”, the starting point for Palestinian- Israeli negotiations.

They reaffirm their support for the objective expressed in Resolution 1397 of the UN Security Council in which “two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognised borders.”

The Quartet further expresses full support for the peace initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah just as it was approved in Beirut by the Arab League last month, as a “significant contribution toward a global peace that includes Syria and Lebanon.”

The Saudi proposal offers Israel normal relations from the Arab world in exchange for its withdrawal to its pre-1967 borders. It also covers the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem.

Wednesday’s joint declaration demands that Israel immediately halt its military operations in Palestinian territories, and withdraw from the Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, and particularly from Arafat’s compound.

The four dedicated a special paragraph to the blockade Israel has imposed on the Palestinian territories and the assaults by the Israeli army against ambulances, hospitals and health centres serving Palestinians.

They appealed to Israel “to fully comply with international humanitarian principles and to allow full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations and services.”

Another exhortation was directed at Arafat, who, “as recognised and elected leader of the Palestinian people,” must make the greatest possible effort to halt terrorist attacks against innocent Israelis.

They asked Arafat to act decisively and to take all possible measures to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure, including its financing, and to halt the incitement to violence.

“Terrorism, including suicide bombing, is illegal and immoral,” says the document, adding that it has seriously harmed the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and must be condemned, as stipulated by Resolution 1473 of the UN Security Council.

According to the Quartet, the solution must be found immediately for a permanent peace, including recognition, normalisation and security between the two sides, an end to the Israeli occupation and an end to the conflict.

This would allow Israel to enjoy “lasting peace and security” and the Palestinian people to achieve their objectives of “security and dignity,” says the text.

The signatories urge the international community, and the Arab states in particular, to preserve, strengthen and aid the Palestinian Authority, including efforts to rebuild the infrastructure and capacities for security and government.

In closing, the declaration states that the EU, United States, Russia and UN will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East and carry out periodic, high-level consultations.

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