PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT Mahmoud Abbas has appealed to European leaders to send an international peacekeeping force to the Middle East to help revive the peace process.
On a visit to the European Parliament, he also described Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip as a “war crime” yesterday and said those responsible should be prosecuted.
“People who committed these crimes have to be held responsible so that these crimes cannot be repeated,” he told journalists at a press conference shortly after delivering a speech to MEPs. He was periodically interrupted by applause from deputies.
“We do not want to continue to be the enemies of Israel. We are stretching out our hand for peace with Israel. But what was done is regretfully crimes of war,” he said.
Mr Abbas vividly described the destruction in Gaza. He said 5,000 people had been wounded – 80 per cent of whom were innocent civilians; 12,000 homes had been destroyed; and 90,000 Palestinians displaced from their homes. He also called for the international community to help end the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is hampering efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the victims of the recent conflict in Gaza.
“The time has come for the international community to bear its legal, political and moral responsibilities and provide it with adequate international protection . . . I would like to stress again our request to send international forces in order to protect our people,” said Mr Abbas, who is on an EU tour to win support for a Palestinian unity government.
The EU is considering deploying monitors to border checkpoints in Gaza to end the Israeli blockade of the region, but it is unlikely to consider sending European troops without a permanent ceasefire agreement between the warring parties. However, it is likely to respond positively to a request by Mr Abbas for the EU to help organise new elections in the Palestinian territories if a Hamas-Fatah unity government can be set up.
Mr Abbas said the Fatah movement had opened the door to reconciliation with Hamas in an effort to set up a unity government that could bring peace. “National reconciliation and establishment of a national reconciliation government is one of our priorities,” he said, noting that he thought Hamas was capable of adhering to a ceasefire agreement.
“Hamas is capable of respecting a period of calm, whether it is part of a government or not,” said Mr Abbas, who nevertheless criticised the group for firing rockets into Israel.
Hamas took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2006.
“For years I have condemned the rockets and I am still condemning them. Rockets do not go in the direction of peace and stability in the region,” he added.
European Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering said Europe was willing to help, but emphasized that Hamas should renounce terrorism and stop firing rockets into Israel.
Fine Gael MEP Avril Doyle said it was clear the main purpose of his speech was to send a message to President Barack Obama and George Mitchell.