Speech
Press conference, Ministry for Foreign Affairs 08 January 2009
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt on the situation in Gaza

Check against delivery.

Acts of warfare against, from and in Gaza must cease immediately.

This must take place without delay.

Israel can only achieve its goal of security from rockets and other attacks through political agreements firmly established in the region and in the international community as a whole. The ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting, sustainable solution will be intensified.

This must be based on ending Gaza's economic isolation together with specific measures to prevent illegal smuggling of weapons and explosives to Gaza.

It is not possible to achieve one without the other.

At the same time, the political authorities in Gaza have a responsibility to the Palestinian people and the international community to refrain from violence and terrorism that targets Israel. Acts of this kind jeopardise the ultimate goal of an independent Palestinian state.

The isolation of Gaza leads to extensive smuggling that itself creates better opportunities to bring in weapons. But ending the isolation will never be accepted by Israel if it is not combined with very firm measures to prevent smuggling weapons to Gaza.

One starting point is contained in the Agreement on Movement and Access of November 2005.

The European Union, in cooperation with the US, Turkey, Norway and others, should offer help to Egypt in particular to control the border and effectively counteract smuggling.

The existing EU Border Assistance Mission can be expanded into a broader-based and more comprehensive mission to provide various kinds of assistance.

But this must involve opening all border crossings for normal humanitarian and economic traffic. This is the only way that the living conditions for Gaza's approx. 1.5 million inhabitants can gradually be normalised.

A continued policy of isolation is neither morally acceptable nor politically sensible.

Initially, an arrangement of this kind must be accepted by the political authorities in Gaza.

At the same time, efforts to achieve a political reconciliation and union between Gaza and the West Bank must be intensified.

This can lead to elections and a Palestinian National Authority that can fully participate in the border control arrangements around Gaza.

Immediately following the end of the fighting, a quick assessment must be made of the humanitarian and the reconstruction needs in Gaza. Sweden is prepared to take part in these efforts at short notice.

On this basis, an assistance and reconstruction plan should be drafted and an international donor's conference quickly convened to ensure both financing and expertise.

The conflict in Gaza has created new and dangerous tensions throughout the region. These have seriously impaired the conditions for a continuation of the peace process that was begun in Annapolis in November 2007.

The continued peace process - based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions - must immediately be reactivated in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1850. The Arabic peace initiative can play a central role in this.

This must be a joint priority for the EU and the US immediately after 20 January. An initiative on a resumed peace process should be taken prior to the election in Israel on 10 February. Delays risk creating tensions that make resumption even more difficult.

Because despite the difficulties we now face and the suffering arising from the conflict, we must not lose sight of the goal: an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security, and a comprehensive solution to the conflict in the Middle East.