Liz Lynne welcomes cross party European Parliament call for Gaza blockade to be lifted

12.52.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jun 2010

Much of Gaza is still in ruins because of the blockade on cement

Local MEP Liz Lynne and Euro MPs from all main parties voted overwhelmingly today for Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza strip after the recent Israeli commando attack on an aid convoy.

The compromise text backed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg also urged the EU High Representative Cathy Ashton and other world leaders to be much more pro-active in pushing Israel to restart a peace process with the Palestinians.

The resolution strongly condemned the raid, which killed nine Turkish aid workers on one ship, and called on Israel to lift the blockade which is causing mass unemployment and near starvation to the Gaza strip's 1.3 million civilian population.

Liz Lynne said: "It was good to see MEPs from many parties united and calling for the blockade to be ended, while reasserting Israel's right to stop weapons being imported and condemning rocket attacks on Israel.

"This motion was considerably more extensive than the one Parliament passed in March. It calls for the EU to adopt a much tougher role pressing for real progress in the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

"International pressure can work. It is encouraging to hear today that Israel may at last ease the blockade, though just allowing in a few more types of goods in is not enough.

"The vote today shows how shortsighted the hardline Israeli government has been. The suffering caused to innocent people in Gaza is so extreme that Israel is losing friends around the world. Turkey used to be one of Israel's strongest allies, but no longer.

"Israel has a right not to have rockets fired on it, but causing mass starvation in the name of security is totally disproportionate."

A long time campaigner on human rights issues, Liz Lynne is a member of the Delegation for Relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council in the European Parliament. She has repeatedly called for an end to the Gaza blockade and disproportionate violence by Israeli troops.

Liz added: "The continued injustice in Israel and the plight of the Palestinians is a touchstone issue across the world. It is used by international terrorists as an excuse for their crimes.

"EU governments and Cathy Ashton should now be encouraging Barack Obama to take a stronger line on Israel and push them to the negotiating table."

ENDS

Note to editors:

In 2008, Liz Lynne MEP co-authored a Written Declaration in the European Parliament on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2008-0047+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN