MEP for Scotland The case for Palestine

Working for a just peace in the Middle East Welcome! This edition of my newsletter is cannot go on and must end with a workable political mainly focused on my recent talks in Israel solution. and Palestine. The main purpose of the visit The bilateral relations between Israel and the European was to witness the implementation but also Union are interlinked with the relations between Israel and the Palestinians. The European Parliament’s vote destruction of the EU funded projects in nominally in principle in favour of Palestinian statehood, Palestinian Territories. and the decisive rhetoric of the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, are just some examples of During the 5 day-long mission I met with key political pressure the European Parliament and the EU can and and civic society figures on all sides and focused our should put on Israel. Our actions reflect our continuous discussions on immediate humanitarian aid and the EU’s disappointment with the way Israel is dealing with this role in fostering a viable peace in the region. complex, but not impossible, situation. I, like many of you, find it unacceptable that more than six However, it is also crucial that citizens and student groups decades after the Israeli state was declared, Palestinians continue campaigning to promote peace and justice for are still asking for their own state; one based on the 1967 the Palestinian people. The grass-roots campaigns have borders and free from occupation and settlement by half- the power to raise awareness of the conflict worldwide, a-million Israelis. changing public perception and subsequently influence The idea of a Palestinian state, able to determine their world leaders to force change via a political solution that own affairs should not be controversial. The Palestinians’ would allow the Israelis and the Palestinians to both live in desire for self-determination, in my mind, is just and peace and security. lawful and I’ve been a vocal supporter of their plea for For many Israelis there is a genuine fear that the marginal recognition of an independent state of Palestine for many politics espoused by extremists in their society have now years. become mainstream, however, there are still people out This was not my first visit to the West Bank. I have now there who believe that a two-state solution is possible. I seen many times the daily humiliations inflicted upon had the pleasure to meet with Gal Hurvitz, Jaffa Theatre the Palestinian people. The ongoing actions of the Israeli founder who works with Israeli and Palestinian youths, Government, including continuous expansion of Israeli bringing them together through arts and theatre. In settlements, is making the economy of Palestine a basket Jerusalem, Ir Amim’s Director of International Relations & case, brutalising the population and, in itself, encouraging Advocacy, Betty Herschman, works tirelessly to educate violence, which is then used to justify further aggression. fellow Israelis about the real costs of the on-going occupation. I favour a two-state solution, and continuously denying Palestinians the legal and moral right to a homeland Not all Israeli politicians back the policies of Benjamin makes this option simply unworkable, undermining the Netanyahu and his party. A former Director General of entire peace process in the Middle East. the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alon Liel, former Israeli Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Ilan Baruch and Let us be clear: the European Parliament has no powers Mr. Mossi Raz, former Meretz Member of the Knesset, all to force change but we, along with the European agreed that their grandchildren won’t be able to live in Commission and the European External Action Service, peace and security unless Israel allows the Palestinians to must send a strong signal to all parties that this conflict create their own state. My work in the European Parliament

Since I became a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the last European elections, I’ve been working to get the issue of Palestinian statehood and the continuous lack of constructive engagement in the peace education, and taxation policies are herding Palestinians process from the Israeli Government high on into ghettoised communities or forcing them from the the European agenda. territory altogether. Israel’s new right-wing government is actively accelerating these policies. Palestinians I’ve met with dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and are banned from using some roads networks, most international human rights campaigners and cases of violent crimes against Palestinians not only go humanitarian NGOs to listen to their concerns about unpunished – but often are completely ignored by the the situation on the ground. I’ve had discussions with authorities. Recently approval was given for buses to Ambassadors, diplomats and international experts as be segregated but, after backlash, the plan was quickly well as UN agencies. I take every opportunity to share scrapped. To characterise this as apartheid is, of course, a Scotland’s message for a just and lasting peace in the strong form of words, but having seen it in action I believe Middle East, in spite of the failed Middle East peace entirely justified. process. This crisis is at breaking point, which could lead to more My recent visit to the region confirmed concerns many violence unless peace negotiations resume. I’ve used my have raised with me before. Ethnic cleansing in East speaking time in the Parliament to highlight the need for Jerusalem is a sad reality. House evictions in the West a workable political solution and will continue to do so. Bank as well as attacks on Bedouins in Israel proper are You can access these speeches plus my press releases, systematic. Israel’s present-day administrative practices written statements and articles on the subject on my in housing, residency, water distribution, urban planning, website: www.alynsmith.eu

Israeli settlements: major obstacles to peace

On both sides of the green line, in Israel proper and the Palestinian Territories, dozens of non-governmental organisations and grassroots campaigns are determined to stop the illegal expansion of Israeli settlements and promote peace and a two- state solution.

In Tel-Aviv I was briefed by Anat Ben Nun, from Peace Now, the longest-standing Israeli peace movement, which Alyn with Anat Ben Nun, Peace Now leads the Settlement Watch project monitoring and protesting against the building of Jewish settlements in future Palestinian state. Israel has expropriated fully 35 the West Bank and East Jerusalem. I was astonished by percent of the land in East Jerusalem as “state land” and the scale and speed of expansion of the new settlements. used it almost entirely for settlements. And there is no Almost 10 per cent of the West Bank is included in the sign of hope following the recent general election in Israel. “municipal area,” or the jurisdictional borders of the The new government is already seeking to confiscate settlements. These borders are so large that they allow private Palestinian lands for further development. settlements to expand many times over onto land that Currently over 600,000 Israeli settlers, soaring from is completely off-limits to Palestinians and many of 189,000 in 1989, live in settlements across the West the settlements were established with a concrete Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, in contravention of objective in mind: to block the creation of a viable international law. 2 Meeting Palestinian politicians While in Ramallah I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, Riyad Al Maliki, who was particularly concerned with Binyamin Netanyahu’s comments unequivocally ruling out the establishment of a Palestinian state and promising to strengthen the construction of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. Al Maliki appreciated the resolution passed by the European Parliament on the recognition of Palestine and called for increased international pressure on Israel to comply with international law. He reassured me that EU Alyn with Riyad al-Maliki, Foreign Affairs involvement would create a better balance, while the US Minister of the Palestinian National Authority is seen to be stepping back from the peace negotiations.

Adnan Ghaleb al-Husayni, the Palestinian governor of Jerusalem and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs offered a rare insight into his daily struggles to stop demolitions and evictions in the city where he was born and of which he is now governor albeit with severely limited powers. While I was there, Israel demolished two Palestinian homes in annexed East Jerusalem that had been built without construction permits. However, according to al-Husayni, obtaining a right to build there is near impossible for the Palestinians. The Governor called upon the international community to “take concrete action”. “Words are simply Alyn with Adnan Ghaleb al-Husayni the Palestinian Governor of Jerusalem not enough,” he said.

The message from representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council was clear; they seek increased involvement of the international community, and especially Europe. During a working dinner with Azzam Alahmad, head of Fatah block, Rabeeha Zyab, former Minister of Women Affairs, Dr Mustafa Barghouthi, Head of Independent Palestine bloc and many others, we discussed the urgency for normalisation of relations between Israel and Palestine, especially in light of growing concerns and the threat from ISIS in the region. Further, my hosts expressed their disappointment with the result of the recent general election in Israel, as they believed Mr Netanyahu is not prepared to negotiate. In fact, they seemed to agree that Area C will become the new focal Alyn with Dr Mustafa Barghouti, point as expansion of Israeli settlements continues. a Palestinian physician, activist, and politician

Palestine joins the ICC About The International At home, I have been astonished by reports that the UK Criminal Court (ICC) government has pressured the Palestinian leadership not Governed by the Rome Statute, the ICC to seek ICC jurisdiction. I have written to the UK Foreign is the first permanent, treaty based Secretary, asking him to clarify the UK’s position. Signing international criminal court established the Rome Statute opens up Palestinian territory to future to help end impunity for the perpetrators investigations, a situation Israel and its allies, including the UK, fought a long and intense battle behind the of the most serious crimes of concern to scenes to avoid. the international community. Further information is available at: www.icc-cpi.int 3 Signs of hope on the future of Palestine?

“There is no peace process worth the name – we have a historic and moral duty to recognise Palestine as a state”

Overall, I welcome the EU High Representative’s engagement in the peace process in the Middle East. The EU has an important role to play and Federica Mogherini – from the very start of her appointment as a foreign policy chief – adopted an ambitious position on Alyn in the West Bank the recognition of Palestine as an independent state. She also openly questioned Israel’s commitment to a just and lasting peace. their plea to the international community. President The European Parliament voted on a motion to recognise Mahmoud Abbas signed applications to join numerous Palestine, but the resolution was watered down and I international treaties and conventions, including the sharply criticised it, as it added nothing new of substance. Geneva Convention, which articulate the laws of war. However, European leaders seem to be waking up to the After formally joining the ICC in April, Palestinian fact that there cannot be a two-state solution without authorities submitted documents to the international two states. There is no peace process worth the name – court based at The Hague, accusing Israel of committing we have a historic and moral duty to recognise Palestine war crimes on Palestinian civilians and building illegal as a state and the recognition will give a much-needed settlements on Palestinian territory. impetus to the discussions. Not only the Government of Scotland, but also Parliaments in Spain, the UK, and The move came days after the long-awaited UN report, Ireland have called for the recognition of Palestine, which pointed out human rights abuses and possible war alongside Sweden, who deserve much praise for their crimes committed both by Israeli and Palestinian armed recent recognition. groups during the conflict last July. Recognising Palestine will be a much-needed step-shift The fact that these cases are being investigated should in that dialogue in a region that is crying out for hope. support the ending of impunity, which is key to reopening Because certainly the Palestinians are desperate to take peace negotiations and to establishing a lasting peace.

“Made in illegality” campaign The aim of this campaign is to make sure that we don’t directly or indirectly contribute Stay informed to the consolidation or expansion of the It’s easy to keep in touch about my work illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian on your behalf and on developments territory. in the European Parliament: This includes labelling products made on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the Golan Heights and East [email protected] Jerusalem to distinguish them from goods from Israel, as well as prohibiting funding or investments to entities that Techcube, 1 Summerhall, operate in the settlements. Edinburgh, EH9 1PL I have written to the EU Commission urging the High Representative to push for EU-wide norms to be adopted on Israeli product labelling and will continue to fight for alynsmithSNP effective implementation of these measures by Scotland’s retailers. Meanwhile, Federica Mogherini announced that the work to establish a set of guidelines on labeling of @AlynSmithMEP products made in West Bank settlements was underway, and that it would be “finalised in the near future”. www.alynsmith.eu 4