MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Palestine: raids by Israeli forces on Palestinian TV stations

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its resolution on the situation in Palestine of 29 September 2011,

–   having regard to the Statement by the High Representative Catherine Ashton on the meeting of Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Amman of 3 January 2012,

–   having regard to the Statement by the High Representative Catherine Ashton on the closure of two Palestinian Television stations of 3 March 2012,

–   having regard to Rule 122 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the EU has repeatedly confirmed its support for the two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security;,

B.  whereas on 29 February 2012 Israeli security forces seized equipment from the Palestinian television stations, Wattan TV and Al Quads Educational TV, based in Ramallah;

C. whereas the European Union has worked with both stations, which have been broadcasting for many years;

D. whereas the Israel Ministry said in a statement that it had repeatedly warned both stations that they were using frequencies that violated Israeli-Palestinian agreements and that interfered with communications and transmissions systems in Israel; whereas a spokesman of the Israeli military said that the interference was affecting airplane communications at Ben-Gurion International Airport,

E. whereas the Palestinian Authority replied that it had received no such warnings and that the stations were not guilty of any violations and that the Palestinian Communications Ministry had determined that the stations had complied with legal requirements and the agreements with Israel,

1.  Calls on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to make the best possible use of the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Technical Committee, established by the Oslo Accords in order to address any issues arising in the telecommunications field, to urgently resolve any issues concerning broadcasting from these television channels;

2.  Welcomes the Palestinian institution building efforts; notes that incursions by Israeli forces into Palestinian cities where the Palestinian Authority, under the Oslo Accords, assumes the powers and responsibilities for internal security and public order is a breach of those accords;

3.  Stresses again that peaceful and non-violent means are the only way to achieve a sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;

4.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Israel, the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council.