- having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East peace process,

- having regard to the statements made by the European Union Presidency on 30 September and 1 October 2000,

A. profoundly disturbed at the events of the last few days which have resulted in dozens of deaths, including a number of children, and hundreds of casualties in Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel,

B. whereas the bloodshed which has claimed so many victims was sparked off by the provocative action of Mr Ariel Sharon who decided, at a time of extreme tension in this area, to visit the Muslim religious compound housing the Dome of the Rock,

C. whereas, despite the stalling of the peace process after the conclusion of the Camp David negotiations, a number of efforts have already been made by the parties concerned, with the support of the United States and the European Union, to restart it; whereas further proposals for the resumption of negotiations have been made, concerning in particular Jerusalem,

D. whereas the European Union unreservedly endorses the peace process and is ready to make any further effort which may be necessary to help guarantee permanent peace in this region,

1. Expresses its sympathy to and solidarity with the families of all the victims;

2. Condemns the act of provocation which sparked off the conflict, with its tragic and all too familiar consequences;

3. Condemns also any use of force, which has tragic consequences for innocent victims, as a means of resolving conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians;

4. Firmly condemns the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army and demands its immediate cessation; calls for the setting up of a committee of inquiry to investigate the events which have occurred and establish where responsibility for them lies;

5. Calls for all extremist elements to be isolated and for any irresponsible acts to be avoided, so as to prevent the peace process coming to a complete halt; calls for measures to be taken jointly by the Israelis and Palestinians to prevent any further acts of provocation and eruptions of violence;

6. Urges that, in future, the parties concerned refrain from any action likely to spark off further confrontation;

7. Calls on the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to ensure that all efforts are made to reach an agreement which is now, more nearly than ever, within their grasp; hopes that recent meetings between Israeli and Palestinian representatives will lead to positive conclusions, taking account of recent proposals to resolve the situation in Jerusalem, in accordance with international law;

8. Calls on the French Presidency of the Council, the Commission and the High Representative for the CFSP to renew their efforts to convince the parties concerned to resume negotiations, by undertaking to supply, through the Commission and the EU Special Envoy to the Middle East, European Union expertise in all the areas concerned, in particular regional cooperation, together with the necessary resources to assist in the implementation of the agreements;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and Parliament of Israel, the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.

(October 2000)

DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON THE MIDDLE EAST
(Nice, 8 December 2000)

The prospect of peace must return to the Middle East.

Nobody can tolerate violence, the suffering of populations or hatred between peoples.

The negotiations must resume.

The European Union considers the following essential in this connection:

• the personal commitment of the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority;
• full and immediate compliance with the undertakings which they entered into at Sharm el Sheikh and Gaza;
• concrete gestures by both parties, with respect, inter alia, to the renunciation of violence and, as regards Israel, the settlements issue;
• the establishment of a mechanism for confidence-building measures;
• the commencement of work on the spot by the Fact-Finding Commission, in which Mr Solana, Secretary-General/High Representative for the CFSP, will take part;
• an agreement on the setting up of an observer mission.

The European Union has major interests in the Middle East. Its positions have been clearly defined, inter alia at the Berlin European Council meeting in March 1999 and in the European Union's Declaration of 12 September 2000. It is willing to consult with all parties on the means of achieving these objectives with a view to the resumption of negotiations for a peace agreement.

(December 2000)

 EUROPEAN UNION, Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the decision of the Israeli government to approve construction plans for Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghneim

27/02/97

"The EU deeply deplores the decision of the Israeli government to approve construction plans for Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghneim located on the West Bank in the Jerusalem area. The EU has repeatedly stated that settlements in the occupied territories contravene international law and are a major obstacle to peace.

The EU once again reaffirms its policy on the status of Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is subject to the principles set out in UN Security Council Resolution 242, notably the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and is therefore not under Israeli sovereignty. The Union considers that the Fourth Geneva Convention is fully applicable to East Jerusalem, as it is to other territories under occupation.

The EU calls on Israel to respect its obligations under international law and to refrain from measures that have an eroding effect on the confidence necessary for the further implementation of the agreements and prejudge the outcome of the permanent status negotiations. The decision is especially regrettable since the signing of the Protocol on Hebron was a positive development which created a new momentum in the peace process and raised the hope for further constructive steps in this process."