European Coalition for Israel

ECI welcomes historic election of Jerzy Buzek as new president of European Parliament

Warns about new provocative EU initiatives in the Middle East during transitional period

Brussels, 15 July, 2009 - European Coalition for Israel is pleased over the election of former Polish Prime Minister and Solidarity activist Jerzy Buzek as new president of the European Parliament. In a letter to the new president on Wednesday ECI writes that “the election (of Buzek) is a good choice for Europe and should be seen as an encouragement for anyone in the world who wants to promote justice and freedom.” Buzek was one of the pioneers of the Solidarity movement in Poland which helped bring an end to Communism in Poland and in Europe. In his first speech as president of the European Parliament on Tuesday he promised to make human rights one of his top priorities.

“-Having lived under totalitarianism for most of his life Buzek knows the difference between freedom and tyranny. This will benefit all those people groups and countries around the world, especially the Jewish people and the state of Israel,  which today face a threat from new totalitarian ideologies,” said ECI director Tomas Sandell in a comment to the historic election.

The election of Buzek marks a historical link to the greatest crime committed against mankind, namely the Holocaust, since many of the largest death camps in Europe were situated on Polish soil.  Due to these historical realities the Polish delegation in the European Parliament, in which Buzek was a prominent member for the last five years, has been one of the most supportive of Israel in all Europe.

“ - At a time when new anti-Semitic groups are growing stronger also in the European Parliament it is of great comfort that the new president is a true democrat and champion of freedom and human rights”, said ECI chairman Helmut Specht on Wednesday.

The European Coalition for Israel was involved in the European Parliament elections in June through a pan-European information campaign called “Pray and Vote 2009” where people were encouraged to take active part in the elections. It now calls upon all Europeans of faith to pray for the newly elected president and all the 785 members of the European Parliament. It notes that the coming months will consist of intensive negotiations among the governments of the member states to find the right composition of the new European Commission which will be installed later in the autumn.

ECI takes a particular interest in the appointment of a new foreign policy chief of the European Commission as the previous head, Javier Solana, has indicated that he is stepping down. ECI urges therefore the outgoing foreign policy chief to refrain from any new and ungrounded initiatives in the Middle East during this period of transition. ECI is particularly concerned about his recent statement where suggested the possibility of a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state ( if the negotiations with Israel do not lead to a creation of a Palestinian state before a certain deadline ) without the consent of the Israeli government. ECI feels this statement hardly encourages the necessary reforms in the Middle East and put into doubt EU:s role as an evenhanded peace broker in the region.

The European Coalition for Israel is looking forward to working together with the new European Parliament and the European Commission in fostering good relations between Europe and Israel during a time when anti-Semitism in on the rise in Europe and when Israel faces a nuclear threat from Iran. ECI sees the fight against anti-Semitism in Europe and the threat from Iran as its main priorities for the new legislative period and is extending its hand for a renewed partnership with the European institutions.

< Prev		Next >