The official Danish reaction to the tragic events in Gaza:
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller says developments in Gaza are of deep concern. (Politiken)
“The new spiral of violence in the Middle East is deeply worrying. The spiral of violence was started by Hamas, prompting a disproportionate response Saturday and Sunday from Israel,” Stig Møller says.
“But this development is seriously damaging the peace process and the two-state solution which is precisely what Hamas is trying to do. I therefore call on both parties to stop the violence. Although Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism and terrorist rockets, civilian losses are unacceptable,” the foreign minister continues.
“Therefore, Israel must contribute to an improvement of the humanitarian situation for Gazans and enable humanitarian assistance to reach them. Continued battles only serve the Hamas (Ed: cause) and seriously weaken the possibility of reaching a political agreement, which is the only solution to the conflict,” Stig Møller says.
“On the Danish side we politically and economically support the Palestinian Government on the West Bank and in the next year we will continue the efforts in assisting the Palestinian Government in obtaining peace and economic progress. This is a substantial contribution to the work for peace in the Middle East.”
Press statement from Sunday 28th December 2008
UPDATE I: Foreign ministers of the European Union will hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday (30th) in Paris on the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, the French foreign ministry announced.
“The ministers will look into how the European Union can help ease the current crisis, along with the efforts of the international community, especially the secretary general of the United Nations,” the ministry’s statement said.
UPDATE II: Statement by the European Union on the Situation in the Middle East, Paris 30th December 2008.
The European Union, conscious of the suffering and anguish of all civilian populations, puts forward the following proposals to resolve the crisis:
- Immediate and permanent ceasefire: there must be an unconditional halt to rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and an end to Israeli military action. The cessation of fighting should allow lasting and normal opening of all border crossings, as provided for in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. The European Union is ready to re-dispatch the EUBAM to Rafah to enable its re-opening, in cooperation with Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. It is also willing to examine the possibility of extending its assistance to other crossing points, provided that the issues relating to security have found a satisfactory response.
- Immediate humanitarian action: food, urgent medical aid and fuel should be delivered to the Gaza Strip, the evacuation of the injured and unhindered access of humanitarian workers should be made possible through the opening of crossing points. The European Union, the leading aid donor to the Palestinians, dispatched a field mission to provide the most appropriate response as quickly as possible in cooperation with the United Nations and NGOs. It has also agreed to coordinate aid donated by each Member State, in collaboration with the European Commission and the outgoing and incoming presidencies.
- Stepping up the peace process, as called for by Security Council Resolution 1850. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Gaza or elsewhere. The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based on the process set out in Annapolis and on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel in peace and security. Work must be carried out, notably on the basis of the Arab peace initiative, to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a comprehensive and operational manner. Europe encourages the inter-Palestinian reconciliation behind President Mahmoud Abbas, as called for by the Ministers of the Arab League on 26 November, and supports the mediation efforts of Egypt and the Arab League in this respect.
The European Union is more determined than ever to assist alongside the other members of the Quartet and the region’s states in ending violence and re-launching the peace process. In this respect, it has been agreed that a European ministerial delegation will travel to the region shortly.
December 29, 2008 at 19:33
So Israel ‘has the right to defend itself against terrorism etc’ and the Palestinians don’t? I just don’t get the diplomatic community. The land was stolen from the Palestinians in the first place and the Israelis just flout international law as they please and they just get a smack on the hand? And the Palestinians live under fearful conditions which will never end until Israel has settled their citizens on the whole West Bank and bombed any resistance out of the Palestinians. I am so deeply distressed and depressed that no government will stand up for the rights of the Palestinians without bending over backwards to the Israelis.
December 29, 2008 at 20:18
Shame on you mr Ambassador,s.
December 29, 2008 at 20:30
The Zionist movement became a formal organization in 1897 with the first Zionist congress in Basle, organized by Theodor Herzl. Herzl’s grandfather was acquainted with the writings of Alcalay, and it is very probable that Herzl was influenced by them. The Zionists wished to establish a “Jewish Homeland” in Palestine under Turkish or German rule. Initially, most Zionists were not concerned about the Arab population, which they ignored, or thought would agree to voluntary transfer to other Arab countries. In any case, they envisioned the population of Palestine by millions of European Jews who would soon form a decisive majority in the land. The Zionists established farm communities in Palestine at Petah Tikva, Zichron Jacob, Rishon Letzion and elsewhere. Later they established the new city of Tel Aviv, north of Jaffa. At the same time, Palestine’s Arab population grew rapidly. By 1914, the total population of Palestine stood at about 700,000. About 615,000 were Arabs, and 85,000 to 100,000 were Jews
December 29, 2008 at 20:57
Q: How many Palestinians were killed in 2007 ?
A: 1000+
Q How many Israelis were Killed in 2007?
A: 4
“I therefore call on both parties to stop the violence” WTF ?!?!?
Your government is just like ours, a group of stupid ignorant people.
December 29, 2008 at 21:50
the EU f…..s prop up Israel’s economy and US arms them then they express concern. all they have to do is threaten to impose sanctions on zion and the killings stop. but they are all in on it. it’s a f…..g crusade.
December 30, 2008 at 09:37
Thank you!
December 30, 2008 at 19:04
Observer: Are you being sarcastic or you really mean it ??
December 30, 2008 at 19:24
observer.
أنت أيضا ، حليف للمجرمين
January 1, 2009 at 05:07
I must say this to you, are you afraid to say the truth about the conflict or because of your diplomatic position and don’t want to jeopardise your career ,if this is the case then you have moral dilemma .In order for any human being (even if it means losing your job) to find the truth about the Palestinians and Israeli conflict , all he /she has to do is read about the conflict and it’s roots if you just do little research on the crimes of Zionism and what they have done to the Palestinians people for the last decades and the ethnically cleansing of palestine ,i don’t think you will utter these words,that the hamas is the problem,off course ,this is not something new to the Palestinians, long before hamas came to being the Zionist have been carrying out massacres since they arrived in Palestine illegally
It seems you either been misinformed about this or you are following your government line and that’s a disaster to your credibility and moral. before I leave here is a link to former israeli academics who spoke and wrote about the nature and intentions of Zionism http://ilanpappe.com/
January 1, 2009 at 05:14
The blind observer,,,وبعدين معك ياأيها المراقب الاعمى ،ولك متا راح تصحا على حاللك وبكفيك مسح جوخ،أيش مفكر السفير راح يعطيك شغل في السفاره ؟؟
January 1, 2009 at 09:50
Hasan Abu Nimah is the former permanent representative of Jordan at the United Nations. This essay first appeared in The Jordan Times and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
Please read his article it’s worth it!