London MEP meets members of Palestinian Legislative Council

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 27th Apr 2004

Sarah Ludford MEP and Emma Nicholson MEP meeting Ms Dalal Salameh and Mr Ziad Abu Zayyad from the Palestinian Legislative Council

Today (27th March) Sarah Ludford MEP met with Ms Dalal Salameh and Mr Ziad Abu Zayyad from the Palestinian Legislative Council. She reaffirmed her commitment to maintain dialogue with both sides of the Middle East process, and underlined the need for progress on the 'roadmap'.

She said:

"After President Bush's endorsement of Mr Sharon's prejudgment of final status negotiations - ruling himself out as an even-handed peacebroker - it is easy to be discouraged about the prospects for the coexistence of a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state, but that is the only real solution via the roadmap. It may well be that Israel keeping some key West Bank settlements and Palestinians accepting that the return of refugees will be to a Palestinian state - with which I personally agree - would indeed be part of an eventual negotiated settlement. The Quartet, with EU leadership, must disprove, however, Mr Sharon's claim that his plan constitutes a critical blow to hopes of statehood for Palestine.

I am absolutely committed to the existence of Israel as a Jewish homeland and state - though one in which Arab Israelis have full, equal rights - and Israel's right to live in peace and security within recognised boundaries. My dismay at the occupation is not only about the misery of ordinary Palestinians but also how the role of colonial occupier is damaging Israel's integrity and its commitment to the rule of law. I condemn all terrorism against Israel and I do not see suicide bombers as purely the product of desperation among Palestinians - real though that desperation is. There is also exploitation of young people and a despicable culture of martyrdom in a perversion of Islam."

Related Links:

Read an article by Sarah Ludford published in Jewish News.

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