The leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe Garcia, announced Wednesday that she will be leading a mission of S&D deputies to Israel and Palestine on June 12-16.
During their visit, they will meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, together with other representatives of the Palestinian Authority, Garcia said.
The delegation will also hold talks with politicians in Jerusalem and Ramallah, as well as civil society representatives from Israel and Palestine.
The European lawmakers will then visit the Aida refugee camp run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, as well as Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills, where over a thousand Palestinians are facing the demolition of their homes and displacement by the Israeli army.
“I am very worried about the constantly deteriorating situation on the ground in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The EU has a responsibility to protect the viability of the two-state solution,” Garcia said.
Last February, heads of mission and representatives from the EU and likeminded countries visited Burqa village and the area around the Homesh outpost following the continuous increase in settler violence in the West Bank.
During the visit, the local community, and civil society organizations briefed the diplomats on the increased attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents and their property, and the difficulties for farmers to access their lands.
