NEWS RELEASE
From the office of the Green MEPs


25 September, 2003

'EU SHOULD REVIEW RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL' - MEP

 

The EU should review its relationship with Israel over its escalating use of military force against Palestinians and its thinly veiled threat to assassinate PLO leader Yasser Arafat, according to London MEP Jean Lambert.

"The situation in Israel and the occupied territories has descended once again into a vicious circle of escalating violence," said the Green Euro-MP following a European Parliament debate on the Middle East conflict.

"With the road map in tatters it seems there is no longer a peace process at all, and Israel's latest threats to assassinate Mr Arafat makes clear it has set itself on a course of military domination.

"The EU should review its relationship with Israel at least until both sides have denounced state-sponsored terrorism and demonstrated commitment to peaceful cohabitation in the Middle East," she added.

"The UK and other member states must immediately and permanently halt all arms exports to the region, which have prolonged and exacerbated the conflict."

ENDS

For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280 or Gemma Stunden on 020 7407 6269