Pittella on Palestine EU must intervene to stop spiral of violence

"Europe must stop this endless spiral of violence in Palestine and Israel, where opposite extremes act and react with ferocity, wounding not only innocent people but also hopes and efforts for a comprehensive peace deal. Every time a Palestinian man raises his hand to take the life of an Israeli citizen, every time a new Israeli settlement is built on Palestinian land, every time an innocent person – Israeli or Palestinian – dies because of extremist actions, hopes for a peaceful future move a step further away.

"Recent worrying acts of violence have the potential to destabilise this already fragile situation. The S&D Group have long called for a serious political solution as the only way to stop the dangerous escalation of violence.

"We are tired of expressing our condemnation or our concerns. We call for Europe to intervene now with one voice. This is the only solution to make a reality of the dream set out recently by Federica Mogherini, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security: two peoples and two states, with Jerusalem as capital of both states."