49 Amendments of Salima YENBOU related to 2021/2207(INI)
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29
Citation 29
— having regard to its previous resolutions on the Middle East peace process, in particular that of 18 May 2017 on achieving the two-state solution in the Middle East5 , and the resolution of 14 December 2022 on the prospects of the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine; _________________ 5 OJ C 307, 30.8.2018, p. 113.
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory has been ongoing for 55 years; whereas any occupation of territory must be temporary under international law and a permanent occupation is unlawful; whereas the number of settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has dramatically increased since the signing of the Oslo Accords in contravention of international law and the objective of peace; whereas this has profoundly changed the social and demographic landscape of the West Bank and led to the fragmentation of Palestinian areas; whereas Israel treats the settlements as a permanent and integral part of its territory, which is tantamount to de facto annexation; whereas this has severely undermined the possibility to establish a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution and instead entrenched an undemocratic one-state reality of unequal rights, perpetual occupation, and conflict; whereas major Israeli, Palestinian and international human rights organisations as well as several United Nations Special Rapporteurs have recently issued reports concluding that Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians amount to apartheid according to international law;
Amendment 56 #
C a. Whereas the Palestinian Authority operates under Israeli occupation and only has a degree of control over discontiguous Areas A and B in the West Bank, which are surrounded by Area C under full Israeli control, representing 60% of the West Bank; whereas therefore EU relations with the PA cannot be addressed without addressing Israeli policies;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the first month of 2023 has been marked by a cycle of violence, with around 30 Palestinians killed by the Israeli Defense Forces, including 9 Palestinians killed in the Jenin Refugee Camp; whereas 7 people have been killed in a brutal attack by a Palestinian terrorist in a synagogue in East Jerusalem;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. Whereas Israel does not allow Palestinian Authority activities in annexed East Jerusalem; whereas Israel has been putting pressure on Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem to switch from Palestinian to Israeli curricula;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. Whereas the West Bank is governed by a dual legal regime, which privileges Israeli settlers over Palestinians who face systematic discrimination in areas including law enforcement, building permits, freedom of movement, and economic activity; whereas Palestinians and Israeli settlers are tried in different courts under different laws for the same offense;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas international assistance is key to the stability of the West Bank and Gaza and thus also benefits Israel; whereas Israel is obliged under international humanitarian law to ensure the basic needs and well-being of the civilian population under its occupation;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas in Gaza, the blockade and intermittent conflict have crippled the economy and 63% of the area's population requires some form of humanitarian assistance.
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas EU assistance provides vital budget support to the PA through the PEGASE programme; whereas since the beginning of the current multiannual financial framework, EU assistance to Palestine has been ad hoc; whereas the 2021-2024 joint strategy provides a basis on which annual action programmes can be adopted, but a multiannual prospect for concrete funding is still lacking; whereas it is necessary to continue implementing an effective process and a scrutinized review of the designation of EU funds;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas EU funding includes a multiannual contribution to UNRWA, whose work Parliament continually supports and advocates to be continued with a strong focus on promoting education based on peacebuilding, reconciliation, tolerance, co-existence and non-violence in view of the crucial role played by the Agency for the promotion of stability and development in the region, keeping alive the prospects of sustainable peace;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas EU funding includes a multiannual contributionthe EU and its Member States are the largest donor to UNRWA, whose work Parliament continually supports and advocates to be continued; whereas EU funding includes a multiannual contribution to UNRWA, ensuring predictable support for Palestinian refugees in line with the EU- UNRWA Joint Declaration 2021-2024;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the United Nations General Assembly has recently voted to extend the mandate of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East until 30 June 2026;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in 2011, the UN Ad Hoc Liaison Committee concluded that Palestinian institutions are ready for statehood; whereas however, since then, the democratic status of Palestine has deteriorated owing to the ongoing occupation, pressure from radical groups and internal problems, as well as worsening rule of law and corruption;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas socioeconomic and employment conditions in Palestine have severely deteriorated; whereas the Israeli occupation involves significant restrictions on the Palestinian economy, which undermines the effectiveness of EU aid and increases Palestinian dependence on foreign aid; ith the continued conflict which increases Palestinian dependence on foreign aid; whereas economic reforms by the Palestinian authorities are necessary, while they are not in themselves enough to ensure sustainable economic growth and private sector development on Palestinian territories; whereas the World Bank has highlighted to which extent the restrictions on movement and access in the West Bank and the Israeli movement and access restrictions on Gaza are obstacles to achieving these goals;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas socioeconomic and employment conditions in Palestine have severely deteriorated; whereas the Israeli occupation involves significant restrictions on the Palestinian economy, whichaccess to natural resources, movement of goods and external trade; whereas UNCTAD estimates the economic cost for Palestinians of Israeli restrictions only on Area C of the West Bank at $50 billion between 2000 and 2020; whereas this inhibits Palestinian exports to the EU under the EU-PLO Interim Association Agreement; whereas this undermines the effectiveness of EU aid and increases Palestinian dependence on foreign aid;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas according to the World Bank, Israeli "constraints on movement, access, and trade continue to be the main impediment to economic growth in the Palestinian territories"; whereas according to the World Bank, Israeli physical and administrative barriers make the average trade cost per container for Palestinian businesses three times higher than the cost for Israeli firms, while the time cost is two to four times higher; whereas Israeli restrictions on movement of Palestinians have a severe impact on the economy and the social fabric of society, significantly extending travel times for Palestinians, and undermining the ability of farmers to access their land and markets; whereas this hinders Palestinian trade, weakens the PA budget revenue, and contributes to its dependence on international donors;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas the pandemic has had a severe impact on the Palestinians; whereas the public health system has been pushed to the brink due to the occupation and the fragile socioeconomic, humanitarian and political situation;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. Whereas Palestinian businesses face numerous restrictions under Israeli occupation while companies in Israeli settlements benefit from government subsidies and unrestrained access to natural resources in Area C of the West Bank and to international markets;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas the Israeli government has put in place far-reaching new restrictions on entry and residence of foreign citizens in the West Bank;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) reiterate the EU’s strong support for the two-state solution, as the only viable solution to the conflict, with the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side, together in peace, security and mutual recognition under the 1967 borders with mutually agreed upon land swaps and Jerusalem as the capital of both states; reiterate the EU’s commitment to equal rights of all Israelis and Palestinians;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) condemn the recent terror attack in a Jerusalem synagogue which led to the death of seven people;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(a b) call for an immediate end to all act of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, to reverse this spiral of violence and engage in meaningful efforts to restart peace negotiations;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) continue to underline that Israeli settlements in the oPt are illegal; call for an end to all actions that under international law; call for an end to the continuation of the colonization policy, plans for expansion, the evictions of Palestinian families and the demolitions which undermine the viability of the two- state solution on the ground and which constitute violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) continue to underline that Israeli settlements in the oPt are illegal; call for an end to all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution on the ground and call for breaking the cycle of violence;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) stress the importance of direct negotiationsand genuine negotiations, based on internationally agreed parameters, between Israel and Palestine and remind both sides of the importance of the participation of women in all levels of the negotiations;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) support Palestinian calls for renewed and inclusive political representation; strongly urge the PA and President Abbas to hold free and fair national elections in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian political leadership; recall in this respect that Hamas is listed in the EU's list of terrorist organizations; call on Israel to respect its obligations to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem; promote the participation of youth and women;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) support Palestinian calls for renewed and inclusive political representation; strongly urge the PA and President Abbas to hold free, credible, inclusive, transparent and fair national elections in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian political leadership; call on Israel to respect its obligations to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem; promote the participation of youth and women;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d
Paragraph 1 – point d
(d) support Palestinian calls for renewed and inclusive political representation; strongly urge the PA and President Abbas to hold free and fair national elections without any further delay in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the Palestinian political leadership; call on Israel to respect its obligations to allow these elections to take place in East Jerusalem; promote the participation of youth and women;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(d a) deploy an EU election observation mission to the oPt upon the announcement of general elections;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) strongly call for East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to be brought under one legitimate, democratic PA rule; facilitate political consensus and reconciliation among Palestinian political factions; stress the importance of democratic elections and their results being respected by all local and international parties involved;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) continue to support Palestinian presence and development in Area C and the transition of Area C to the full control of the Palestinian Authority, as foreseen in the Oslo Accords;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
(h) demand that the PA establish independent and reliable mechanisms to investigate occurrences of torture or ill- treatment; and other human rights violations;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) comply with the commitment to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products; ensure that the principle of legal differentiation between the territory of the state of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 is applied consistently to the full scope of EU bilateral relations with Israel, in accordance with existing CJEU rulings and UNSC Resolution 2334; demand the adoption of EU legislation banning trade with settlements in the oPt, in compliance with international humanitarian law;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point l a (new)
(l a) better monitor the implementation of clear differentiation policies within the EU;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) engage with the PA to jointly establish a more regular political dialogue at the ministerial level and toconvene an association council; launch, as soon as possible, negotiations on a full association agreement between the EU and Palestine; convene an association council when an agreement has been reached;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(m a) engage with the PA to jointly establish a more regular political dialogue at the ministerial level with a strong focus on human rights, rule of law and the fight against terrorism, and to move towards negotiations on a full association agreement between the EU and Palestine; convene an association council when an agreement has been reached;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) work towards an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, including the possibility for Palestinians to travel outside for work, study, medical reasons or to visit family relatives in the West Bank and elsewhere;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) work towards an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Stripcontinue supporting the efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and to actively work for an end to the sixteen-year-long blockade through a political solution respected by all parties;
Amendment 282 #
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) continue its support to the work of the Central Elections Commission and to engage with relevant actors to support the electoral process; actively offer to deploy an EU election observation mission to the oPt upon the announcement of general elections;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
(o a) deplore the striking disparities between the health services available to Palestinians and those available to Israelis resulting in higher mortality rates; urge the EU to work with the Israeli authorities on a solution to ensure the inhendered access of Palestinian patients to medical care by Israeli authorities;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) enhance funding, including humanitarian aid and development assistance, for the green transition, good governance and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack for the green transition, youth participation, democratisation and anti-corruption efforts, including public financial management reform; ensure continued humanitarian aid and development assistance, including for Palestinian communities in Area C and East Jerusalem; ensure continued funding for essential services including education and health; expand aid to Palestinian civil society, including to human rights defenders under attack; underline that funding must not be suspended for civil society organisations without evidence of misuse;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point p a (new)
(p a) Insist that Israel financially contributes to the basic needs and well- being of Palestinians under its occupation in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law (rather than leaving the burden to international donors);
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) continue applying the incentive based approach and policy dialogue of PEGASE which aim to accompany the PA to foster effective and accountable institutions ready for statehood and enable inclusive social development; exclude the PA Ministry of Interior from EU financial assistance through PEGASE to the PA, while retaining the overall level of financial support, until authorities take effective steps to end arbitrary arrests and torture and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for abuses;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point t a (new)
(t a) strengthen policy dialogue in the framework of PEGASE, through more frequency and better coherence of meetings and concrete indicators;
Amendment 329 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point t b (new)
(t b) increase the visibility of EU actions on the ground through a better and more strategic communication;
Amendment 332 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u
Paragraph 1 – point u
(u) ensure continued and additional financial support to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA to meet the increasing needs on the ground; recall that in the agreement for the 2023 EU Budget, the two arms of the budgetary authority jointly decided on an increase for the NDICI-Southern Neighbourhood budget line to be dedicated also to UNRWA; call for an special focus on education and health care within this funding;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point u a (new)
(u a) express their concern about the negative impact of the new rules restricting entry and residence of foreign citizens in the West Bank on both the Palestinian society and on European Union citizens who want to work, study or live in the West Bank, including spouses and family members, students and academics, experts and volunteers; highlight that these restrictions have a seriously disruptive impact on the implementation of the ERASMUS+ Programme; highlights the importance of the EU’s principle of reciprocity of visa- free access in this context;