Why the European Parliament must call for the recognition of Palestine?

Open letter addressed to Members of the European Parliament.

On the 17th of December 2014, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution for the recognition of Palestinian Statehood. However, debate around this issue is difficult, as demonstrated by the different preparatory texts tabled by political groups on the 10th of December.

FIDH would like to stress how prejudicial it could be for the European Parliament not to call for the unconditional recognition of Palestine as a state:

• Firstly, this resolution represents the EP's official position on the recognition of Palestinian Statehood. As such, any failure to call for such recognition will not be read as a non-position on the issue, but as a position of non-recognition of Palestine as a state. This would be so regardless of any attempt made at neutral wording.

• Secondly, the resolution is being discussed in the wake of Sweden's prior recognition of Palestine last October – a recognition that adds Sweden to a list of other countries already recognising Palestinian statehood, including Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, as well as the parliaments of France, Spain, Ireland, and the UK, who have also called for such recognition. Despite the undefined positions expressed in the European Parliament on the 10th of December, the last few days have also seen majorities in favour of recognition reached by Parliaments in Brussels and Portugal (who called for the recognition of Palestine on the 11th and 12th of December, respectively). At a time when the newly elected European Parliament is striving to tackle the 'democratic deficit' of European Union institutions, this resolution presents itself as an important opportunity to echo the will expressed through the representative bodies of European citizens at the national level.

• Thirdly, the European Parliament has a specific responsibility to redress the unbalanced way in which some motions have addressed the conflict, notably in avoiding the qualification of the situation as one of occupation and in shying away from denouncing sectarian violence, discriminatory laws and practices, and Israel's collective punishment policy. In this context, the European Parliament must call on the EU to end its 'wait and see' position. This is a position that has been characterised by its abstention on the UN HRC resolution setting up the Commission of Inquiry after Operation Protective Edge, by its failure to respond when the Commission was denied entry to Gaza, and by its failure to comply with its obligations, as defined by the International Court of Justice in the Wall case – an opinion that has remained a dead letter for over 10 years. This obligation was, namely, not to recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction and to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law.

Any subordination of the recognition of Palestinian statehood to the success of peace negotiations is a new conditionality imposed on Palestine, while Israel remains immune from such conditionality.

The recognition of the State of Palestine is a response founded on international law and is crucial to the attainment of a sustainable solution to conflict in region. As such, it is important for both the EU and the region itself.

This vote presents a historic opportunity. Now is the moment for the European Parliament to play a role in resolving the conflict by calling for EU institutions to take concrete steps in support of the attainment of peace. That means using diplomatic tools and leverage, such as the recognition of Palestine, as well as fully cooperating with UN initiatives, including the Commission of Inquiry, supporting international justice, banning products from settlements and conforming to the EU common position on arms trade.

Last Update 16 December 2014