Israel rejects European accusations over Rafah aggression
Israel-European Union, Politics, 5/21/2004

Israel refused the European Union EU condemnation of the irresponsible behavior of its forces over human life in Rafah to the south of Gaza.

The Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Irish ambassador Patrick Henesii --whose country is currently presiding over the rotating presidency of the European Union -- and notified him its regret over the statements of the Irish foreign minister in which he said that the Israeli army acted improperly towards human life in Rafah.

Israel had also criticized its alley the USA over not using the veto in order to obstruct the adoption of the UN security council a resolution condemning the military operations in Rafah and said it regrets this American behavior.

To this end, the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa welcomed the ratification of the UN resolution, but expressed in a statement to AL looking forward for its immediate implementation. He called on members of the Quartet ( the US, Russia, the European Union and the UN ) to intensify their activities so as to prevent the further deterioration of conditions.

For his part, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called for an immediate interference of countries sponsoring the ME peace process to halt the unjustified Israeli aggressive practices against the Palestinians. He also stressed the need of preparing the appropriate atmosphere to resume the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

The United Arab Emirates UAE condemned the Israeli aggressive practices against the Palestinians " which do not serve peace in the region." The UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed al-Nahyan stressed during his meeting with the Palestinian former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas on the Israelis and the Palestinians to return back to the table of negotiations in order to find out a just and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian question.

Morocco also expressed great concern over what he had described the grave escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories. A statement by the Moroccan foreign ministry called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility and to quickly interfere to put an end to the acts of killing and displacing against the Palestinians.

Previous Stories:
  EU Parliament slams Israeli practices against the Palestinians   (4/7/2004)
  European pressure on Israel coupled with Sharon 's visit to Italy   (11/18/2003)
  Israel, the EU for boosting relations   (3/6/2003)

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