Gaza conflict: implementing the Goldstone recommendations Human rights

Respect for human rights by all parties to the Gaza conflict, independent investigations of alleged violations of human rights, a strong EU common position on the follow-up of the Goldstone report and close monitoring of its implementing measures are Parliament's key demands in a resolution adopted on Wednesday.

All parties should respect human rights

"Respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties under all circumstances and trust-building between Israelis and Palestinians are essential components of a peace process leading to two states living side by side in peace and security" says the resolution, which stresses "once again the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and between Israelis and Palestinians in particular".

Independent and impartial investigations within the next five months

The European Parliament "urges both sides to conduct investigations within five months that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness." This is in line with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 26 February, which requests a further report, as the recent report of the UN Secretary General was "inconclusive on investigations into possible violations of international law during the deadly 2008/2009 conflict in Gaza."

Implementing and monitoring the Goldstone recommendations

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU Member States should work towards a strong EU common position on the follow-up to the Fact-Finding Mission report on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, says the resolution.

They should also publicly "demand the implementation of its recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes, and urge both sides to conduct investigations that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness", it adds.

Furthermore, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Member States should "monitor actively the implementation of recommendations included in the Goldstone Report by consulting the EU's external missions and NGOs working in the field", it says.

No restriction of NGO activities

MEPs stress the importance of co-operation between official authorities and NGOs, and are concerned about "the pressure placed on NGOs involved in the preparation of the Goldstone report and in follow-up investigations". They call on authorities on all sides "to refrain from any measures restricting the activities of these organisations".

Finally, Parliament welcomes the Council's 8 December 2009 call for "an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings" along the Gaza-Israel frontier as the blockade has further worsened the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution was approved with 335 votes in favour, 287 against and 43 abstentions.

ABHaber raporu yayımlıyor:

European Parliament resolution on the implementation of the Goldstone recommendations on Israel/Palestine B7 0138/2010

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East, in particular its resolution of 15 January 2009 on the situation in the Gaza Strip,

– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

– having regard to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949,

– having regard to the UN General Assembly resolutions of 5 November 2009 and 26 February 2010,

– having regard to the report of the UN Secretary-General on the Follow-up to the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict of 4 February 2010,

– having regard to the report by the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, of 15 September 2009,

– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas during the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip which took place, following rocket attacks in south Israel, from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, more than 1 400 Palestinians, a large number of them civilians, including many women and children, as well as 13 Israelis, were killed and key parts of the civilian infrastructure, including agricultural and industrial facilities, were destroyed in the area,

B. whereas the UN General Assembly, in its resolution of 5 November 2009, called on the Government of Israel to take all appropriate steps, within a period of three months, to undertake investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law reported by the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict,

C. whereas the UN General Assembly, in the same resolution, urged the undertaking by the Palestinian side, within a period of three months, of investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law reported by the aforementioned Fact-Finding Mission,

D. whereas the UN General Assembly requested the UN Secretary-General to report back on the implementation of its resolution with a view to considering further action, if necessary, by the relevant UN organs and bodies, including the Security Council; whereas the Secretary-General delivered his report on 4 February 2010,

E. whereas the UN General Assembly, in its resolution of 26 February 2010, reiterated its call on both Israel and the Palestinian side to conduct credible investigations and requested further reports in five months,

F. whereas the Israeli civilian and military authorities have launched investigations - based on information received from Israeli, Palestinian and other sources - into 150 separate incidents, including 36 criminal investigations; whereas many of these investigations are still ongoing,

G. whereas a Presidential Decree of 25 January 2010 established an independent investigation commission to follow up the implementation of the Goldstone Report on the Palestinian side; whereas this commission started its work during the last week of January 2010,

H. whereas the follow-up investigations to the Goldstone Report and the implementation of the Report's recommendations may have a major impact on peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as on internal political developments on both sides,

I. whereas the embargo, which represents collective punishment in contravention of international humanitarian law, has further aggravated the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip; whereas the lifting of the blockade and the improving of the living conditions of the 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, are key aspects of the efforts aimed at relaunching negotiations for achieving a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,

J. whereas the considerable European Union financial support to the Palestinians has played an important role in the attempt to prevent a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip; whereas the European Union continues to provide, including through the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), financial support and humanitarian assistance in the area,

1. Stresses again the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and between Israelis and Palestinians in particular; underlines that respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties and under any circumstances as well as trust-building between Israelis and Palestinians are essential parts of a peace process leading to two states living side by side in peace and security;

2. Welcomes the efforts made by the UN General Assembly to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law during the Gaza conflict and encourages it to continue these efforts;

3. Insists that the follow-up investigations to the Goldstone Report must be independent, credible and in conformity with international standards; calls on all parties concerned to make all possible efforts to meet these requirements and standards in their investigations, deliver a comprehensive report about the outcomes, and fully implement the findings included in their report, as well as to implement the recommendations of the Goldstone Report;

4. Stresses the importance of the cooperation between official authorities and non-governmental organisations in the follow-up investigations and in the implementation of the Goldstone Report's recommendations on all sides; expresses its concern about recent attacks against NGOs involved in the elaboration of the Goldstone Report and in the follow-up investigations, and calls on authorities on all sides to refrain from any action that may have a negative impact on the activities of these organisations;

5. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to monitor closely the follow-up investigations to the Goldstone Report on all sides as well as the implementation of the Report's recommendations, and to insist that investigations must be independent, credible and in conformity with international standards;

6. Urges the European Union and its Member States to take into consideration the outcomes of the follow-up investigations and of the implementation of the Goldstone Report's recommendations in their relations with all parties referred to by the Report;

7. Encourages the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to work for a strong and coherent common position of the European Union and its Member States in this context;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Quartet Envoy to the Middle East, the Israeli Government, the Knesset, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.

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Avrupa Parlamentosu Sol grubu adına yazılı bir açıklama yapan Kıbrıslı Rum Kyriacos Triantaphyllides,Goldstone raporunun AP genel kurulunda kabul edilmesiyle İsrail'in uluslararası hukuku ihlal ettiğinin ortaya konulduğunu söyledi:

Strasbourg 10-03-2010

A long overdue acceptance of Israel's violations of international law

Following the European Parliament's approval of a resolution on the Goldstone report on the war on Gaza, GUE/NGL MEP Kyriacos Triantaphyllides welcomed Parliament's acknowledgment of Israeli violations of international law.

"The approval of the joint resolution on the implementation of the Goldstone report signals the impact of the report on the Middle East Peace Process. For the first time, a resolution voted in the European Parliament acknowledges Israeli's violations of international humanitarian law" he said.

The Goldstone Report is strong evidence that Israeli forces committed violations of international humanitarian law during 2008's military operations in the Palestinian territories. The GUE/NGL group welcomes the report and we call for the immediate adoption of its findings by EU Member States and the implementation of its recommendations. We also demand that no upgrading of EU – Israel Association Agreement is conceded given the violations committed by Israel.

ABHaber