A viable sovereign Palestinian state

 - a precondition for a just and comprehensive solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict
Statement of the XXXIII NELF meeting, June 13 – 14, 2008, in Larnaca, Cyprus
The New European Left Forum (NELF) XXXIII meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus, June 13 – 14, 2008, is deeply concerned about the continuing Israeli aggression and violations of human rights and international law in the occupied territories. This aggressive policy is a gross violation as well of the commitments made by the Israeli Government at the Annapolis Conference in November last year to abide by the Road Map provisions and stop further settlement building in the West Bank, including the Jerusalem area. At present the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is being converted into a de-facto colonization of the area by expanding the segregation Wall and the settlements in the West Bank, including the Jerusalem area. Thereby destroying the prospect of establishing a viable Palestinian state, thus spelling the end of the process started by the Annapolis Conference. There is no just and final solution to the conflict without a viable sovereign Palestinian state.

Therefore we note with great concern that the response of the EU to this situation is one of contemplating to upgrade its relations with Israel. Upgrading relations with Israel would necessarily be interpreted by the Israeli Government as rewarding present Israeli expansionary policies in the West Bank. We deeply regret if the EU will not be able to adopt a more independent line to that of the Bush Administration, which is openly colluding with the Israeli Government.
We believe on the contrary that it is necessary for the EU to exert greater pressure on the Israeli Government in order to move forward the peace process. To this end we call upon the EU and the European governments to introduce trade policy action towards Israel to progress the peace process. There is a need of a boycott of settlement products and a suspension of EU – Israel Trade Agreement as long as Israel does not adhere to international law and human rights. Equally trade of all strategic goods and services should be suspended by the EU. We also believe that the EU must bring to an end its policy of sanctions and siege of Gaza to stop the suffering, impoverishment and starvation of Palestinians living there.  The 33^rd NELF meeting calls upon the international community to put pressure on the Israeli government not to invade Gaza. If such an invasion were to take place, extensive human suffering would be an unavoidable consequence. We also call upon the international community to support the efforts being made by the President of the Palestinian Authority Abu Masen and the Egyptian government to reach an agreement on a ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli Government.

After 60 years since the establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948 and the Al-Nakba – the catastrophe of the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes and land in Palestine – a just solution to the conflict must be achieved based on the UN resolutions 194, 242, 338. Therefore we see the need to convene an international conference with full powers, supervised by the UN, with the aim of implementing the UN resolutions and reaching a final, just and all-inclusive solution to the conflict.
A complete withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories to the 4th of June 1967 borders should take place as fast as possible to open up for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is a necessary precondition for a lasting peace to the benefit of the Palestinian as well as the Israeli population as well as for resolving other conflicts in the region.

The continuing Palestinian internal division has clearly been damaging the Palestinian position at an international level. Therefore we, the representatives of the NELF parties at this XXXIII meeting, wish to congratulate the Palestinian left parties on their efforts to establish the unity of the Palestinian Left and to try to provide for the conditions to help forward national dialogue and reunify the whole Palestinian society to be able to achieve a final and comprehensive solution to the conflict.