PES calls on UN & Israeli Labour Party

3 August 2006

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the President of the Party of European Socialists - which brings together Europe’s leading social democratic, socialist and labour parties – today launched an appeal to the UN Security Council to step up its efforts to bring an end to the fighting in the Middle East.

Having spoken to several European Socialist and Social Democratic Foreign Ministers in recent days, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said “I strongly support the EU Foreign Ministers’ resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities followed by a sustainable ceasefire. It is a very clear and strong united political message , thanks not least to the Finnish Presidency, and I welcome the  mandate given to Javier Solana.”

“This conflict cannot be resolved by military means, and with every woman and child killed it becomes more counterproductive. I appeal to the UN Security Council to call a halt to the fighting.”

“I appreciate the tremendous efforts made by Kofi Annan to achieve a stronger UN response and I urge the Security Council to act decisively.”

"This is an international conflict which cannot be solved without international involvement. The UN Security Council must act now to stop the killing.”

“We need a peace that guarantees the security of Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. The EU must play a decisive role in mobilising the international force under UN mandate that would maintaining that peace.” 

Rasmussen also called on the Leader of the Israeli Labour Party – Defence Minister Amir Peretz – to be a voice of moderation in the Israeli Government. “The Israeli Labour Party is a member of the Socialist International and an observer at the Party of European Socialists and should heed our calls for an end to the fighting.”