Waldner: Open crossings
Photo: Sebastian Scheiner
EU: Israel added new roadblocks
European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero Waldner criticizes Israel's humanitarian policy in Gaza. 'Despite committing to remove roadblocks, Israel has added 44 new inspection points', Waldner charges
Brussels – European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero Waldner criticized Israel's humanitarian policy in the Gaza Strip Wednesday.
In a speech she delivered in Brussels to the European parliament on the issue, Waldner also addressed the situation in the West Bank. Since Israel had committed to the international community to remove checkpoints there, she claimed, they had added 44 new inspection points.
Peace Summit
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Only 30 of some 800 European parliamentary members were at the meeting.
In her speech, Waldner reviewed the humanitarian crises in Gaza, including the lack of medical equipment in hospitals and the serious sewage problems.
Although humanitarian aid was reaching Gaza, it was in not nearly sufficient quantities, she said. Waldner demanded that crossings into Gaza be opened, chiefly the Karni Crossing, which have been closed for some four months.
Hopes for Annapolis summit
Waldner noted that since September, the European Union transferred some 19 million liters of petrol to Gaza, and was carrying out a plan to aid 35,000 impoverished families. She added that at the upcoming Quartet meeting in New York she would demand that the humanitarian aid projects in Gaza be properly attended to.
We must hope that the Annapolis conference leads to hope towards establishing a Palestinian state that will exist in peace and security alongside Israel, Waldner said.
She also heaped criticism on Arab nations, who, she said, have failed to contribute in the political processes. Waldner expressed displeasure at Hamas' takeover of Gaza, and stressed the EU's support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Most of the members of parliament present at the discussion criticized Israel for the humanitarian situation in the Strip. They demanded more determined action and pressed for crossings to be open for the transfer of food, aid and medicine.
