Doors shut on Rochdale MEP

Chris Davies, Rochdale Liberal Democrat MEP

A Rochdale MEP has been refused access to Israeli territory to pay an official visit to report on conditions in the Palestinian city of Gaza.

Israeli authorities have said that a delegation from the European Parliament will not be allowed through the military barriers that keep 1.7 million people in isolation.

The decision is thought to be a retaliation for the recent declaration by EU foreign ministers that no European financial support will any more be given to Israeli projects associated with the illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

Liberal Democrat Chris Davies has paid five visits to Gaza over the past decade to meet with the UN officials who provide humanitarian relief. He said the denial of access to parliamentarians did not help Israel's reputation.

He said: "Gaza is just 90 minutes drive from Jerusalem but has been turned into a giant prison. Governments across the world have condemned Israel for applying collective punishment to its people.

"Hundreds of thousands of decent people in Gaza are living on handouts and being denied hope for the future. It is not a situation that can help Israel's long term security.
"Under international law it is Israel that is responsible for the well-being of the Palestinians in Gaza."

The Israeli authorities claim that the refusal of access is intended to avoid strengthening Hamas, but the MEP says that he has made three crossings from the country since 2006. "Israel just makes up the policy as it goes along," he claimed.

"I have no sympathy for the Hamas regime now running the Gaza Strip but Israel should know that you can't make peace without talking to your enemies."