Peace for Israel and Palestine must be on fair and equal terms, says Green leader

Commenting on the Israeli prime minister's announcement that he would be prepared to recognise a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MEP said today:

"Anything that brings Israelis and Palestinians closer to a permanent peaceful settlement must be applauded.

"However, I can understand why Palestinians would be very unhappy with Mr Netanyahu's preconditions. For a new state to have no control of its borders or its airspace would simply not be fair. To recognise a state on condition that it has no armed forces and is not allowed to make defensive military alliances is not really recognising its sovereignty."

Dr Lucas added: "The Green Party obviously recognises Israel's need for security. We unequivocally condemn all acts of terrorism against Israelis. We vehemently oppose anti-semitism."

"And by exactly the same reasoning, we cannot support the idea that a government with a track record of illegal aggression and illegal occupation should be allowed to impose conditions like these on its neighbour."

She added: "We note that Benjamin Netanyahu continues to support the building of homes and infrastructure in territories that do not belong to Israel. We must therefore question his sincerity."

"A peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians must be built on the basis of mutual respect and equality between nations. You can't have a normal, respectful relationship between two states where one of them insists on the right to be able to dominate the other, and to recognise its existence only with unreasonable conditions attached."

Green MEP Calls For Urgent Political Solution To Conflict On Return From Euro-Parliament Visit To Gaza

Caroline Lucas MEP demands recognition for Palestinian unity government and an end to the blockade, as illegal Israeli settlement building continues.

Following a four-day visit to Gaza and the West Bank with a European Parliament delegation, Green Party MEP for the South East Caroline Lucas has warned that the Middle East peace process will fail unless political leaders recognise a Palestinian unity government – and insist on an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza.

Speaking about her trip to the region, Dr Lucas, who is also Green Party Leader, said: "The UK's Secretary of State for International Development has today said it's crucial that Palestinians come together for reconciliation –and I would certainly agree with him. Yet the EU's refusal to recognise the previous unity government because it contained elements from Hamas – though democratically elected – was instrumental in dividing Palestinians and exacerbating tensions.

"If the Palestinians can put together a government of genuine unity, based on tolerance, pluralism, and a commitment to previous peace process agreements that include the recognition of Israel, then it is the responsibility of the international community to accept it – regardless of
whether or not it contains members of Hamas.

"And indeed, a process of dialogue and reconciliation between the different Palestinian factions is already emerging. The political leaders gathering in Sharm-el-Sheikh this week for a conference on aid and the reconstruction of Gaza must recognise the need to support this political process and work towards bringing the West Bank and Gaza under unity control. More aid may provide short-term relief for the humanitarian crisis, but it is merely a sticking plaster on what is essentially a political struggle.

"There are already tonnes of aid piled up at the border into Gaza, but the continuing Israeli siege is preventing it from reaching the people who need it most. When I met with UN officials in Gaza this week, I was told that around 750 trucks a day are needed to maintain essential supplies.
Currently, Gazans are lucky to see around 30.

"So, the international community must demand an urgent lifting of the siege on Gaza, and ensure the free movement of people, as well as goods, for the whole of the West Bank and Gaza Strip – in other words, the first steps towards ending the occupation, so that the Palestinian people can be allowed to start rebuilding their economies and communities.

Dr Lucas concluded: "Unfortunately, the main threat now to a two-state solution is the Israeli authorities' continuing aggressive expansion of the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the further extension of the apartheid wall. Israel must be brought to account for this continued flouting of its commitments under both the Oslo Accords and recent peace
agreements."