EU's Ashton: There is much to be done to improve the situation in Gaza
EU FM says Gilad Shalit must be released, if relations between Israel and Palestinian leaders in the Gaza are to improve.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel news Gaza EUCatherine Ashton, the EU foreign and security affairs chief, said Monday Israel must do more to allow goods in and out of the Gaza Strip.
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European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton speaking in Brussels on June 17, 2010 |
| Photo by: AP |
"We need to see more happening to improve the situation in Gaza, especially for exports to be allowed so that the Gaza economy can start to grow again," Ashton told reporters on arrival at a meeting with the EU foreign ministers. "There is much to be done."
Ashton was to brief the foreign ministers on her visit to the Middle East last week when she met with Israeli officials in Jerusalem and officials of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank town of Ramallah. She also visited the blockaded Gaza Strip to gauge the impact of Israel's easing of its embargo on the Hamas-ruled territory.
While Israel has eased its grip on the Gaza, it says allowing Gazans to export and travel freely would pose too much of a security risk.
In Jerusalem last week, Ashton told Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman the security of Israel is extremely important and must be assured, but she suggested Israel could ease trade restrictions on Gaza.
The Israeli blockade is aimed to weaken Hamas, an Islamist group committed to the destruction of Israel and refusing to hand over an Israeli soldier who was captured five years ago.
Ashton said Monday "the soldier must be released, if relations between Israel and Palestinian leaders in the Gaza are to improve."
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The Prime Minister if Great Bitain has described Gaza as a huge prison camp. That the raid on the Turkish Flotilla was inexcusable and Netanyahu has to ensure that the enquiry currently being undertaken is transparent and reports back quickly. This despite the Conservative Party being given millions in donations by the Jewish lobby.
Agreed! First step should be the EU issuing and executing international arrest warrants for the criminal Israeli politicians, followed by their trail at the International Court of Justice in den Haag. It will not only significantly improve the situation of Gaza, but also Israel’s' chances for survival!
The Prime Minister of Britain David Cameron has just called Gaza a Prison Camp and the raid on the Turkish Flotilla unacceptable. That despite the fact that the Israeli Lobby gave the Conservative Party £10 Million in the run up to the election.
Demonstrate against Hamas! The Israel silent majority does not agree to jeopardize the life of all Israeli civilians for one soldier. The culprit is NOT Israelis, but Hamas!!!!!!
Anyone bothered to find out who financed this venture ?
Ashton's comment is unbalanced when she asks for the release of Shalit, but does not say a word about the many democratically elected Palestinian parlementarians still in Israeli jail, although they were taken prisoner as a direct retaliation for the abduction of Shalit. Besides on Dec. 8 last year the EU FM's did not ask for "easing" the siege, but stated that it is unlawful and must be fully ended.
Because they support Hamas claims Israel should be annihilated. Because they laughted when Sderot kids run under mortars, and Shalit was abducted. Because in 67' they tried together with Arab states to annihilate Israel, and did embargo weapons deliveries which were essential for Israel survival and were paid for. Because they fail to see that if Arabs would have agreed to Israel 47' borders we were still be there, thus mixing actions and reactions when questioning Israel's moral positions. Because today they attack Salam Fayyad, and try to promote Hamas in the West Bank, thus blowing the chance for peace in the West Bank away. Because they crucified many Jews in Israel 2000 years ago, including one Jesus, and still today blame us - the victims - for their crimes. Thus accusing all Jews today of deicide. This is why we trust the U.S.A. and we don't trust Europe. If Europe wants to gain some trust in Israel they should start by declaring that: "Europe agrees Israel has also a right to exist" and should end Europe's de-facto support of the Hamas charter (as exemplified in the current visit).
First, Ashton was elected, and Israel is not a part of the EU to comment on that. Second, before complaining that Gaza people elected Hamas, look what kind of government you elected. Do you think everybody is happy with your ...PM and even more FM. Should everyone start a blockade till the better one is elected?
...freeing Gilad Shalit, and even now, doing so half-heartedly. And this is the EU that wants us, Israelis, to trust it as a participant in the peace process...??!! P.S. And still, no demand of the Arab League, lest the Muslims in Europe will not like it, and no word demanding of the UN and the International Red Cross to make demands against which Hamas will not be able to stand!! And of course, there is no need to mention the United Nations Human Rights Council for whom Jews are less than humans thus requiring only partial human rights, and Gilad Shalit is a Jew after all.
There are hardly people or countries Israel trusts, but it can't be that everybody in the world is wrong and just poor Israel is threatened by everybody. Maybe one should search for some reasons for that in Israel?
Hamas are not bound by any UN resolutions, they're not a state. All they are obliged to do is abide by the Laws of War which only require family contact, which they have done.
David Cameron has accused Israel of holding 1.5 million Gazans in a Prison Camp. Seems that the UK has different priorities than Israel.
Now that we've heard about the thousands of civilians killed by NATO troops in Afghanistan maybe you should tend to that first before sticking your nose into other people's business.
Why does Israel keep asking for EU money in that case? Why do Israeli rulers frantically beg European diplomats not to cancel the Association Agreements that allow Israeli products not be taxed in Europe (with the exception of settlement produce of course, as they are illegal)?
BTW, who and when elected her?
the European Council (the heads of states elected by their nation)
http://wp.me/pDB7k-m1
Hamas must be removed.
free palestine and will give u shalit back!
You will find Palestine there as well!
I think that the United States should stay away from the Israel and Palestinian conflict, the Obama administration has to much on the plate, unemployment, heath care, immigration and so on and I believe that this administration should focus in our own problems. Both sides must sit down and get a result there are so many problems in this situation the settlement and East Jerusalem issue and that topic is very sensitive and they are only the ones that can find a common ground Most of the Arabs countries are not interested in helping the palestinians they are playing their own game and as long as the United States gives to Israel the green light there will not be any agreement and the fight is going to last for many years to come! Ideassoul.
stop aid to isreal!
Exports. What exactly does Gaza have to Export? The people all live off UNRWA so nobody works. But money to go to the new shopping mall they have.
Augustus - ever heard of 'window shopping'? - it costs nothing... So many people like you seem to begrudge the Gazans having a ''Brand New Luxury Shopping Mall', an ''Olympic Sized Swimming Pool'', ''Top Class Restaurant'' Just goes to show how enterprising the Gazans are!!
Who? Reference pls.....thx
It is no mentioned in this article which side holds the prisoner
He has described Gaza as a huge prison. So in Europe it is very clear who we accept as holding the prisoner
that Shalit be recoginzed for the POW he is and that the 8000 or more Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails (a war crime BTW) are recognized as Palestinians citizens jailed for nothing more than freedom fighting... something Israel of course relishes in its sordid past.
in other words - ludicrous, trumped up charges.
...ensure the release, without any pre-conditions, of Gilad Shalit. Why should any country trust any of these international organizations if they can't bring about the release of a lone soldier from a tiny territory controlled by a small terrorist organization...?? I, for one, have ceased trusting these entities and the "human rights organizations", the so-called NGOs that issue reports, but none about the only human being who actually need their assistance in Gaza, Gilad Shalit.
You go ahead and tell us how and why you think that any NGO should make a report about Gilad. First of all he is just one person, humanitarian organizations usually focus their reports on you know, slightly larger issues. Secondly he is held in some cellar somewhere and no NGO anywhere has been allowed access to him. Which sort of makes it a bit difficult to make much of a report about it, don't you think? Nevertheless there have been lots of mentionings of Gilad by NGO:s. That you choose to ignore this and spread your lies doesn't change that fact. Also your delusions about the power that you think international organizations and NGO:s hold over terrorist groups are very entertaining, they just lack any basic connection with reality.
...point of view of organizations such as the UN Human Rights Council and various NGOs is that he is only a Jew...!!
in order to have a POW released?
International organizations aren't meant to keep terrorist organizations (which can be very small or quite large but usually not as large and cohesive as a government) in check as much as countries.. like israel. In other words they hold higher expectations for Israel's behaviour than Hamas'. I think that's more reasonable than worldwide anti-semitic conspiracy
There are countless of people that are held by various terror groups, guerrillas etc. without getting any reports, despite being non-Jews. Please work that into your conspiracy theory about the anti-Semitism of the rest of the world. But I guess facts and reason are irrelevant to you. I was going to suggest that you tell us how many reports Israel has made about lone Gentiles who have been kidnapped and are held in some unknown location, but I realized you probably wouldn't understand the analogy, so let's skip that.
She was put in the house of lords, and placed in position within EU. If Mrs Ashton is so concerned with elections, which she should be, then she should start by haveing an elected house of lords.
held on the word of the Israeli military in the West Bank - including hundreds of children.
I agree with Baroness Ashton that Gazans need more freedom to travel, at least for education. Israel is trying to restrict Hamas terrorists, but that need not stop students from studying abroad, especially in the West Bank and Jordan, two other Palestinian areas.
She was put in the house of lords, and placed in position within EU. If Mrs Ashton is so concerned with elections, which she should be, then she should start by haveing an elected house of lords.
I don’t suppose she will mention the new, luxury shopping mall. Its air conditioned and sells designer clothes. See for your self – try Googling “ Gaza Shopping Mall “. On their opening day they had special offers of Israeli-made trousers and American shirts. Not exactly “an open-air prison”. Pity that Hamas builds shopping malls but doesn’t repair damaged buildings.
So what??? It makes not one iota of a difference if it was lined with gold and studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies!! Your argument is like seeing malnourished Ethiopian women and children, and then saying, oh look, that woman has a gold a wedding ring, oh, and that one!!
The malls and designer clothes are for the small minority of black marketers who have grown rich selling items not let in by Israel to other black marketers. 80% of the Palestinians don't have the money to buy toilet paper. But of course you don't have that problem in Geneva.
How cime Israelis complain their country is at stake when you have the most luxurious malls in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, David ?
Instead of hanging in geneva and its luxurious malls, pleasemake aliyah and then you can voice your concerns for the future of Israel.
So European Union Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton is still rambling on about bulls- when she should be sending in Nato troops to locate and free Gilad Shalit and then try negotiate deals etc. with the Palestinian authority,talk is cheap?
Why is the EU responsible for trying to free an Israeli soldier that has been captured/kidnapped? And how the heck do you figure that the EU would order NATO to send troops? By the way, I think the Israeli public would prefer to see Gilad released rather than killed in an attempt to free him. Of course it might fit your agenda to have his death be pinned on the EU while Israel is released from it's current dilemma.
One who is unable to influence HAMAS, shouldn't give advice to Israel.
And as soon as Hamas stops holding everyone hostage there, as soon as Hamas is removed for murdering their way into controlling the territory, then "so much" could be done for Gaza under the LEGITIMATE leadership of the Palestinian Authority. Maybe the first step is for Hamas to stop holding mass weddings with 6 year old girls... Disgusting.
they are the voted leaders of Gaza! isreal isnt giving the palestinian a better alternative goverment. so hamas will be there for a while love it or hate it. they hamas take care of the people of gaza , schools, health and hope for palestine!