women and peace |
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Press Release Luisa
Morgantini Member European
Parliament, THE ASSAULT
ON JERICHO PRISON IS A SCANDAL: |
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"The escalation
of violence that we are witnessing today with the Israeli army assault
on Jericho prison is scandalous. Israel cynically and brutally continues
to use force to enter the Palestinian territories, to kill, to brutalise,
and to violate any type of legality. This time the Israeli army does
not even have the excuse of responding to an attack. What is emerging
from Israel's attitude is solely a pitiless and cruel logic of vendetta
and of the most brutal colonial domination." With these words
Luisa Morgantini, member of the European Parliament of the Gue-NGL
group and President of the Development Committee, spoke of the Israeli
army assault on Jericho prison which aims at capturing some Palestinian
detainees currently held in the prison in the custody of US and British
guards. "The Americans and British must take responsiblity for their actions. The decison to abandon Jericho prison is a serious violation of the undertakings that were made and calls to mind the role of Sharon in the Sabra and Chatila massacre". The 2002 accords assigned the custody of Ahmed Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and other militia members found to be responsible for the killing of the Israeli minister Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, to international guards. "This act demonstrates
a serious irresponsibility on the part of the US and Great Britain.
An irresponsibility that threatens to make Palestine become like Iraq,
that foments and deepens the spiral of violence in the region. The scenes
of Palestinians forced to come out half-naked and with their hands raised
recalls other terribile scenes. The Israeli
government cannot remain unpunished. The breaking-off of diplomatic
ties and the suspension of Israel from all International institutions
would be deserved. Just as the violent
reactions and the abductions of foreign citizens and attacks on istitutions
by Palestinians is to be condamned, so too and once and for all, Europe
and all the members of the Quartet must require Israel to put an immediate
end to aggressive policies, to withdraw from the occupied territories
and to abide to international law. Peace
is necessary to both Palestinians and Israelis. The best way is to stop
Israeli unilateral action, and restart negotiations". |
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