EU Political and Security Cttee visit to Israel and the OPT – EU press release

European Union Press Release

14 MARCH 2012

Political and Security Committee visit to Israel

and the occupied Palestinian territory

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory from the 12th until the 14th of March. The PSC members held meetings with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials.

The PSC discussed the EU's role in the sectors of security and justice with the Office of the European Union Representative, EUPOL COPPS, EUBAM Rafah, the UK and the Netherlands at the Jericho Police Training Centre. The Delegation also had the opportunity to exchange views with the Chief of Palestinian Civil Police, Major General Hazem Attallah. In Israel the PSC met with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy, Dan Meridor. In the oPt the PSC members met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. The meeting with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will take place next week in Brussels. The PSC Delegation also visited Hebron in the company of its Mayor Khaled Osaily.

The members of the PSC discussed with the respective parties, the Middle East Peace Process, regional developments, the situation on the ground and the security situation.

Background:

The Political and Security Committee is the permanent body in the field of common foreign and security policy mentioned in Article 38 of the Treaty on European Union. It is made up of Ambassadors from the 27 Member States. Its remit is: to monitor the international situation in the areas covered by the common foreign and security policy; to contribute to the definition of policies; to monitor implementation of the decisions taken under the responsibility of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Contacts:

Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel:

David Kriss, Tel: 972-3 6000 906; Mob: 972-54-2240772

The Office of the European Union Representative,

West Bank & Gaza – UNRWA

Antonia Zafeiri, Tel: 972- 2 5415 859, Mob: 972-54 8024 915

EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah,

Benoit Cusin, Tel: +972 2 297 6677 (Ext. 113), Mob: +972 54 266 6644