We express our full solidarity with the international movement of active citizens from many countries, insisting on making the peaceful journey of the "Freedom Flotilla" to Gaza with a double aim: to transport humanitarian assistance and demonstrate active opposition to the illegal and brutal blockade imposed on this Palestinian territory by the Israeli government.

We unequivocally condemn the attitude of the EU leadership and member states' governments, which instead of encouraging and supporting this initiative as an important expression of "citizens diplomacy", they tried not only to prevent it, but proceeded to banning the departure of the flotilla. The Greek government played unfortunately a central role in this.

By adopting this stand they aligned themselves with the Netanyahu government, emboldening it to continue its provocative policy on the Palestinian issue, in contempt of the  UN resolutions and international law.

The Party of European Left believes that there must be no more delay in lifting the Gaza blockade. The policy of settlements should end immediately and the "apartheid wall", which has been declared illegal by the International Court in The Hague, should be abolished.

We urge the EU and the governments of all countries of the European continent to support in the UN the initiative for the recognition of an independent, sovereign and democratic Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside the state of Israel, to the benefit of peace throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean and allover the world.

  THE PRESIDENCY OF THE PARTY OF THE EUROPEAN LEFT Athens, July 5, 2011