EU Presidency declaration on the situation in the Middle East – Non-UN document

Declaration by the Presidency of the European Union on the Situation in the Middle East
12 April 2001

The Presidency of the European Union deplores the dangerous and dramatic escalation of violence on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Presidency looks with particular concern upon the Israeli attack on the Palestinian refugee camp Khan Yunis in Gaza Strip on April 10th. This attack seems to mark a change in the Israeli tactics, constituting the first large-scale incursion by Israeli forces into Palestinian-ruled territory. The Presidency also looks very seriously upon repeated mortar-attacks from Palestinian administered territories against Israeli civilian targets.

Every effort has to be made to stop the escalation of violence, and both sides are urged to take immediately steps to stop the bloodshed. It is not conducive to a solution that both parties persist in the unfortunate conviction that it is the other party that bears full responsibility for the violence and the present impasse in the peace process.

The Presidency is concerned about the verbal incitement, and urges the parties to exercise restraint.

The Presidency welcomes the renewed security cooperation between the parties and hopes that these talks will lead to an increased level of trust at this critical point in time. The European Union remains at the disposal of the two parties should they so wish.

Source: Foreign Ministry of Egypt at http://www.mfa.gov.eg/testf.asp