DIVISION FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace The urgency of addressing the permanent status issues — Borders, Jerusalem, settlements, refugees and water Qawra, Malta 12 and 13 February 2010 10-36241 2 CONTENTS Paragraphs Page I. Introduction …………………………………………………………. 1-4 3 II. Opening session ……………….……………………………………. 5-15 3 High-level segment .………………………………………………… 16-21 7 III. Plenary sessions .....…………………………………………………. 22-70 8 Plenary I …………………………………………………………...... 22-41 8 The state of the peace process …….…………………………........... 22-29 8 The current overall situation Terms of reference for the permanent status issues …….…………... 30-41 11 Plenary II ……………………………………………………………. 42-70 15 Breaking the status quo: Creating a political climate conducive to the advancement of the peace process……………………………….. International and regional approaches to promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict …….………………………............ 42-55 15 Modalities for bridging gaps and building trust between the parties …….……………………………………………. 56-62 20 Role of parliamentarians and inter-parliamentary organizations in supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace and stability in the region …….………………………………. 63-70 22 IV. Closing session ………………………………………………………. 71-77 25 Annexes I. Concluding remarks by the organizers…………………………………………… 25 II. List of participants ………………………………………………………………… 31 3 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace was held in Qawra, Malta, on 12 and 13 February 2010, under the joint auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in keeping with General Assembly resolutions 64/16 and 64/17 of 2 December 2009. 2. The Committee was represented at the Meeting by a delegation comprising Pedro Núñez Mosquera (Cuba), Vice-Chairman of the Committee and Head of the Delegation; Saviour Borg (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee; and Riyad Mansour (Palestine). 3. The meeting consisted of an opening session, two plenary sessions and a closing session. Presentations were made by 19 speakers, including Israeli and Palestinian speakers. In addition, the President of the Egyptian People’s Assembly and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State of Turkey made statements during the high-level segment. Moreover, representatives of 30 Member States in addition to the Holy See and Palestine, as well as 3 intergovernmental organizations, 7 inter-parliamentary organizations, 2 United Nations bodies and 14 civil society organizations participated in the meeting. Also attending the meeting were 56 parliamentarians in addition to a number of special guests and media representatives (see annex II to the present report). 4. Concluding remarks by the organizers were presented during the closing session (see annex I to the present report). II. OPENING SESSION 5. The Speaker of the Parliament of Malta, Louis Galea, pointed out that the meeting was the result of a process which had started at the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace held in Cyprus in May 2009, when the co-hosts had begun discussing the prospects of convening a joint meeting focusing on the role of parliamentarians. Mr. Galea told participants that, during a recent encounter, an “important personality” had warned that trying to move anything in the paralysis of the Middle East peace process might worsen the situation. While characterizing himself as a realist, Mr. Galea said that he never given up hope, and he expressed sadness at encountering such a pessimistic view of the situation. He held that the present meeting should be aimed at adding impetus and value to the efforts of more traditional players. While acknowledging that a final resolution would emerge from intergovernmental diplomacy, he underlined the increasing recognition of parliamentary diplomacy as an important complementary tool to promote dialogue. He concluded by expressing the hope that the discussions would foster a better understanding of the problems ahead and trace a framework for further collaboration. 6. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Tonio Borg, said that the meeting could not have come at a more opportune juncture. He expressed serious concern that the continuing impasse, the low confidence between the parties and the disagreement over the terms of reference for the negotiations were compounded by the dramatic developments on the ground. In recalling that intense diplomatic activity by various actors had been directed at the resumption of negotiations, he deplored that the desired breakthrough remained elusive and urged that the 4 international community exert maximum efforts to actively engage with the parties directly and with regional partners, as well as within the Quartet, in support of a meaningful process, which would lead to a clear endgame. Mr. Borg said that meetings such as the present one provided an opportunity for Governments and institutions, as well as for representatives of the legislatures of Mediterranean States, to discuss peace in the region. He stressed the role of parliamentarians in supporting Israeli-Palestinian peace and stability through intensification of contacts and constructive dialogue. 7. Noting the persistence of deplorable living condition one year after the crisis in Gaza, Mr. Borg called for an end to the blockade, as well as enhanced efforts to promote the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank. At the same time, he said, the situation in East Jerusalem remained a major preoccupation, together with expanding settlement activity, Palestinian house demolitions and revocation of residency rights. He recalled that, as affirmed in the December 2009 statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as the rest of the international community had never recognized Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem. Mr. Borg reiterated that genuine peace meant that a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two States. In stressing that settlement activity throughout the territory occupied in 1967 was illegal and contrary to the Road Map, he argued that only concrete confidence-building measures on the ground could lead to a resumption of negotiations. Peace, he said, could be achieved only by the establishment of a Palestinian State. Mr. Borg expressed the hope that the next two days would constitute a further step towards the desired goal of a comprehensive regional peace. He believed that, apart from sending the right political signals, the meeting should assure all those directly affected by developments in the peace process that their well-being remained at the fore of the agenda. 8. The statement of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was read out by his representative at the meeting, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs. In noting that daunting challenges remained in the quest for statehood and self- determination for Palestinians security and recognition for Israel and lasting peace in the region, the Secretary-General urged all parties to respond positively to calls for a resumption of political talks and work concertedly for quick, meaningful results. Permanent status issues, including Jerusalem, borders, refugees, security, settlements and water, would be resolved only through negotiations, he said. While welcoming Israel’s efforts and willingness to resume talks, he deplored that a return to negotiations was being hampered by developments on the ground and he called on Israel to adhere to international law and its obligations under the Road Map, including with regard to settlements. He urged Israel to refrain from taking steps which could prejudge negotiations and create tensions, particularly in East Jerusalem. A way should be found, through negotiations, for Jerusalem to emerge as the capital of two States, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all, he said. 9. In welcoming the reform efforts of the Palestinian Authority, the Secretary-General stressed the importance of advancing the Palestinian State-building agenda, while striving to fully meet other Road Map obligations, including an end to incitement against Israel. He was encouraged by Israeli steps to ease movement restrictions and facilitate economic activity in the West Bank. In Gaza, the protracted suffering of civilians was a source of tremendous concern, the Secretary- General said, adding that the continued blockade was unacceptable and counter-productive, destroying legitimate commerce and denying aid organizations the means to begin civilian 5 reconstruction. He condemned rocket fire from Gaza, which indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians, and stressed that the United Nations would continue to try to bring relief to the people of Gaza, to promote dialogue and to rally international support for a strategy that could deliver calm for Gazans and Israelis alike. The Secretary-General expressed support for the Egyptian efforts towards intra-Palestinian unification. In pointing out that clear parameters for ending the occupation that began in 1967 and creating a State of Palestine were contained in Security Council resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative, he emphasized that political will was required by the leadership on both sides, along with creative support