Access denied: European Parliament’s Delegation left out of Israel and Palestine

“Mr. Pineda arrival to the State of Israel was not approved”.  

These are the words with which, last 19 May, the Israeli government denied access to the country for the Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Palestine (DPAL), Manu Pineda MEP. Therefore, the European Parliament’s (EP) mission to Palestine, ought to start on Monday 23rd May, was cancelled. 

The EP mission was planned to travel to the occupied PalestinianTerritories to review the situation on the ground after the killing of the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as well as to meet with Civil Society Organisations and the Palestinian Authority . 

The ETUC, the ITUC and SOLIDAR firmly condemn the decision by the Israeli government and express their solidarity to the members of the cancelled EP mission: “Israel cannot decide who from the EU can travel to Palestine nor to prevent international missions to visit Palestine”, said Luca Visentini, ETUC Secretary General. “We expect a firm diplomatic response coming from the European Union”  he concluded. 

“As the maximum representative of the house of European citizens, we count on European Parliament’s President, Ms. Metsola, to request the Israeli Government to withdraw its decision”, said Mikael Leyi, Secretary General of SOLIDAR.  

“Israeli’s decision hits Palestinian people once more.” said Sharon Burrow, ITUC Secretary General. “Palestinian people remain under the yoke of the Israeli occupation, with no end in sight. Only when Palestine becomes an independent state existing alongside Israel, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, can its people no longer have to be held hostage to Israel’s willingness to negotiate their future.” 

Picture credits: Shutterstock / magicinfoto