On February the 10th was celebrated the meeting “¿And after Gaza, what?”,
summoned by Madrid Platform for Peace in the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, Assembly
of Cooperation for Peace and the Platform of Women Artist against Gender Violence.
NGO and movements for Peace, journalists, professors, Trade Union and political
parties’ representatives attended, not only to offer their different points of view
regarding the tragic events of the last offensive over Gaza, but also to show their
political perspectives on the region. Those gathered,
WORRIED by the humanitarian and economic catastrophe of Gaza, an as a
result of it, the increase of tensions and violent postures in both peoples and in the
region;
AWARE of the failure of Annapolis Peace Negotiations, we insist on the need of
reaching an agreement in the main status issues, so future negotiations can be successful
and durable;
BEARING IN MIND that the lack of political unity in Palestine between PNA
and Hamas, and its respective polarization in the Arab world is a fundamental obstacle
to fight against occupation and jeopardize the Peace Process;
CONSIDERING that although European Union reaction to Gaza’s attack has
been too late and weak, its last initiatives have been wise and positive. In this sense, we
support European Parliament resolution approved on February 18, where it calls Israel
for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip and calls for a detailed damage assessment;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that United States has supported Israel
unconditionally until now, nonetheless we hope that Obama´s Administration will be a
good opportunity to establish a change in its Middle East policy, more equable with
both parties.
APPRECIATING the role that Spain, Turkey, Egypt and Syria have played in
the Mediation to attain the ceasefire.
ACKNOLEDGING the mobilization and impact that European Civil societies
and Arab countries have had in the Media and its respective governments to obtain the
ceasefire between Hamas and Israel;
STRESSING again that politic and negotiations in this Conflict must be always
over war;
CONDEMNING the violation of Human Rights and the Non-Compliance with
the International right;
We raise to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and to the
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of
the Council of the European Union
Conclusions and recommendations:
1º. To achieve an immediate and permanent truce between Israel and Hamas with the
International support mediation.
2º. To send International civil and military interposition forces to Gaza. These ones will
be provisional, until the Palestinians can carry out an effective control of their borders.
These forces will guarantee:
- The openness of the border crossings.
- The free circulation of goods, equipments and people through the borders,
including humanitarian personnel and journalists.
- The secure reception of humanitarian aid in good conditions destined to Gaza
for its reconstruction.
- The normalization of civil life in Gaza.
3º. To request European Union raise awareness and ask Israel government to pay an
economic compensation for Gaza’s reconstruction as a sign of justice and predisposition
towards Peace. This aid will be for a medium and long term period, and not just an
emergency material, but a permanent aid orientated to democracy building. It will
encourage the dialogue among both people, the implementation of educational
programmes for peace and the exercise of democratic practices under the respect of
Human Rights, UN resolutions and other International Right agreements.
4º. To incorporate women at decision-making levels in conflict and peace processes, in
a quote of no less than 30%, as it is established in the 13/25 UN resolution.
5º. To foster dialogue and encounter between wide and diverse Civil Society sectors of
both people, supporting meetings of Palestinian and Israelis of the different political,
social, intellectual and academic groups. Therefore, they can be able to coordinate and
make decisions of joint agreement, regarding Gaza’s reconstruction and peace
achievement. From the peace movements we encourage all governments, civil societies
and organizations, to bet for dialogue and political negotiations as the only possible
ways to obtain this common aim.
6º. To reinforce and support Palestinian and Israeli Civil Organizations, which are
already working together in the region.
7º. To strengthen empathy and political pedagogy through campaigns which aim would
be:
- To raise awareness among the different social sectors of Israeli population towards
peace and against extremism.
- To raise awareness among Palestinian population, showing them other points of views
and organizations which are working against occupation and militarism.
- To raise awareness among Spanish society about which is the real situation of the
Conflict, not only showing violence.
8º. To support Palestinian unity, given that Palestinian organization and people’s
division has been negative for their struggle against occupation and peace.
9º. To include Hamas in the peace negotiations, but only under the condition that it
renounces to violence.
10º. To demand UN, EU and Arab countries to get involved and assume their
commitment as equals in order to:
-control Gaza’s reconstruction and border crossings.
-denounce and condemn the no fulfilment of the truce.
-carry out a negotiation process which leads to the definitive cease of violence and the
establishment of a fair and lasting peace.
11º. To condition the renewal of the EU-Israel Agreement, on Israel compromise to
guarantee the respect of Human Rights and the UN resolutions.
12º To request European Union to work together with the United States to make
effective their multilateralism policy in this conflict.
13º. To promote and support Spanish role as mediator together with the rest of the Arab
Countries and EU members.
14º. To request Media, organisms, social and political institutions to give a clear, not
slanted information about the region events.
Signed
Plataforma de Madrid para la Paz en el Conflicto Palestino-Israelí (Madrid Platform for
Peace in the Palestinian – Israeli Conflict)
Plataforma de Mujeres Artistas contra la Violencia de Género (Platform of Women
Artists against Gender Violence)
Asamblea de Cooperación Por la Paz (Assembly of Cooperation for Peace)
Movimiento por la Paz, el Desarme y la Libertad (Movement for Peace, Disarmament
and Freedom)
Fátima Aburto, Deputy of PSOE- Partido Socialista Obrero Español (Spanish Socialist
Workers’ Party)
Unión General de Trabajadores- Madrid (Workers’ General Union- Madrid)
