An urgent meeting was held today, between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) Secretary General, Ambassador Sergio Piazzi, and the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva, H.E. Eviatar Manor, as part of the Assembly’s efforts towards an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip, following the escalation of hostilities over the last few days. PAM reiterated its firm plea to stop the confrontation and avoid further deaths and casualties among the civilian population on both sides.
In a previous statement, PAM reaffirmed its full condemnation of the escalation of armed hostilities in Israel and Gaza, and invited all parties to abide, first and foremost, to the principle of protection of civilians and innocent citizens, and to not give in to any hard-line positions that will inevitably lead to further intensification of violence.
In the last few days, PAM has been actively working on a wide scale, together with other international institutions, to assist Israel and the Palestinians to reach a truce and revert to the negotiating table in order to achieve a lasting agreement on the basis of the two State solution, which will benefit the populations on both sides.
Consultations have been going on, with the participation of PAM President, Sen. Francesco Amoruso, and former PAM President and former Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Sen. Dr. Fayez Al-Tarawneh, with major stakeholders among whom the Vice-Presidents of the Knesset and of the Palestinian National Council, Hon. Majallie Whbee and Hon. Tayseer Quba’a, respectively, both Vice Presidents of the Assembly.
A channel of constant communication is open with both the United Nations and the League of Arab States (LAS), namely with H.E. Ambassador Robert H. Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process and UN Secretary General Envoy to the Quartet, and H.E. Dr. Nabil El Araby, Secretary General of the LAS.
PAM also pledged its full support to the mediation initiative led by Egypt, and has expressed its commitment directly to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mohamed Kamel Amr, to whom PAM reaffirmed that it considers the Egyptian initiative to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, as the most realistic and concrete effort that can bring a tangible solution to this escalating crisis.
The Assembly received yesterday a request from H.E. Saleem Al Za’noon, Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, seeking PAM’s help to stop, in all possible ways, the Israeli military operations in Gaza. PAM assured H.E. Al Za’noon that it will make every effort in that regard, and also to see that all its member states and parliaments assume their responsibilities, not only towards their citizens, but also towards the region’s more than 500 million people, who, in expressing their support for a fast solution, also expect that a sense of goodwill prevails on this occasion.
PAM President, Sen. Francesco Amoruso, has also informed the Speaker of the PNC of his intention to travel to Gaza as soon as possible, in order to assess the impact of the military operation and consider priority actions by PAM to support peace efforts and humanitarian activities in the area. On the same occasion, the PAM delegation will also visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
Sen. Amoruso today has also reported to the Italian Parliament, in the presence of the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Giulio Terzi, on the Palestinian request and on PAM’s most recent endeavors in this regard. “PAM’s role is to facilitate dialogue on the peace process, and it is leaving no stone unturned to achieve an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations”, the PAM President concluded.