Le Parti Socialiste Européen interpelle Ehud Barak

Voici un courrier publié sur le site du PSE quele Président, l'ancien Premier Ministre du Danemark, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, adresse à Ehud Barak, leader du parti travailliste et ministre de la Défense israélien.

Certainement intéressant à lire, ce n'est pas fréquent de voir un leader d'un parti membre de l'IS interpellé de la sorte.


Mr. Ehud Barak
Chairman of the Labor Party of Israel
Minister of Defence of Israel

Brussels, 7 January 2009

Dear Ehud,
Dear Mr Chairman,

I am writing to you concerning the tragic events unfolding in Gaza since the launch of the military operation ‘Cast Lead’ of the Israeli Defence Forces on December 27 2008.
As leader of the Labor Party of Israel and Minister of Defence, you have a crucial role.The current situation is utterly unacceptable and I feel obliged to voice my concerns.

Let us be clear: I condemn Hamas launching rockets against Israeli civilians. It is unacceptable and Hamas bears a significant responsibility in the current crisis. European Socialists have always been committed to the Middle East and have always enjoyed close contacts with Israel and its people. We have always expressed our commitment to Israel’s security and expressed solidarity in times of pain and distress.

Nevertheless, today’s toll of more than 600 civilian deaths in Gaza is outrageous and disproportionate to the Israeli casualties caused by Hamas rocket attacks. The number of innocent children killed and families destroyed is appalling. Today, the whole population of Gaza is deprived of food, heating, energy, medical supplies and other basic needs.

No one can remain quiet: no one can justify such extreme actions. Even in a state of war there are international laws and agreements to be respected and Israel must comply with her obligations under international humanitarian law.
There is no military solution to insecurity in and around Gaza and no military means to end Hamas leadership of the Gaza strip. On the contrary, we are witnessing the rise of even stronger popular support for Hamas in the Palestinian territories and in the Arab world.

Only a comprehensive political agreement between Israel and Palestine will create the conditions for peace and security.

I am therefore calling you to end immediately the military operation and ground invasion. It is time for a ceasefire under the auspices of the United Nations.

I give my full support to:

- An immediate ceasefire agreement, as proposed by Egyptian President Mubarak and supported by the EU and the US;
- The complete withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza;
- A third-party monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with any ceasefire agreement respecting Israeli and Palestinian security interests;
- The lifting of the siege of Gaza, with immediate access for humanitarian supplies and opening of the crossing points.

The humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza is deeply damaging EU-Israel relations and it could have severe consequences that both of us would like to avoid.

The Israel-Palestine conflict is at the heart of regional insecurity in the Middle East. It is time to prepare the future and work on a long-lasting solution ending the Palestinian territories occupation. I am convinced that an International conference should be convened by the Quartet to negotiate a political agreement, with all the players in the region, along the lines of the Arab League initiative and previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

There are many voices around the world calling for reason. There are also unfortunately many urging more radicalisation and division. Let us not be deflected from the responsibility to create a peaceful environment for the Middle East.

I recall the late and great Yitzhak Rabin’s memoirs, “There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the risks of peace are preferable by far to the grim certainties that await every nation in war.”
All PES Leaders and member parties in the EU are committed to support the Middle East Peace process and share the vision of two secure and viable states coexisting in peace: Israel and Palestine.
I am at your disposal to step up the efforts of the EU to achieve a ceasefire and a lasting peace, and I urge you to choose the path of the political negotiations in the interests of Israel and the security of the whole region.

Sincerely yours,

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
PES President