European Union

The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek will carry out an official visit to the Palestinian Territories and Israel from 12-15 June 2011. He will visit the Gaza strip and the West Bank at the start of the visit - 12-14 June and will be in Israel from 14 -15 June. 

Ahead of the official visit EP President Jerzy Buzek said:  "This visit comes at a crucial time. There is no time like the present for the parties to return to talks.  The Israel and Palestinian leadership need to seize the moment for a historic peace agreement, to match and live up to the historic spirit of change in the region."

Some key parts of the programme:

On Monday 13 June, EP President Jerzy Buzek will visit EU-financed projects in Gaza under the auspices of the United Nations Relief and Works Agencyfor Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and visit East Jerusalem under the auspices of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.  He will also meet with representative of civil society in both Gaza and East Jerusalem.

On Tuesday 14 June, President Buzek meets with Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, as well as with members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

In the afternoon of 14 June, President Buzek will be in Israel and visit the Yad Vashem memorial. He will then hold meetings with NGOs and civil society. Later on Tuesday, President Buzek meets with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. On Wednesday 15 June, President Buzek meets Shimon Peres, President of Israel.

President Buzek will address the Knesset at a special solemn session on Wednesday and meets with Knesset Speaker, Reuven Rivlin. A meeting with opposition leader Tzipi Livni also takes place on Wednesday.  On the same day, President Buzek will hold an exchange of views with students on EU-Israel relations at the Hebrew University of Jersualem.

Full programme:

Monday 13 June - Palestinian Territories and Israel

Morning

Visit to EU-financed project: Atfaluna Society for Deaf children - Gaza Strip

Visit to Distribution Centre - Gaza Strip

Meeting with UNRWA Vocational Training students - Gaza Strip

Meeting with business community and civil society leaders - Gaza Strip

Meeting with UNRWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi followed by a press point - Gaza Strip

Afternoon

Visit to East Jerusalem and surroundingsunder OCHA auspices

Tuesday 14 June - Palestinian Territories and Israel

Morning

Meeting with Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority followed by a press point - Ramallah

Exchange of views with members of the Palestinian Legislative Council - Ramallah

Meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority followed by a press point - Ramallah

Afternoon

Visit of Yad Vashem memorial and laying of a wreath - Yad Vashem

Meeting with NGOs and civil society

Meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel - Jerusalem

Wednesday 15 June- Israel

Morning

Exchange of views with the European Forum students on EU-Israel relations - Hebrew University

Meeting with Reuven Rivlin, Speaker of the Knesset - Knesset

Afternoon

Speech at the solemn session of the Knesset Plenum - Knesset

Meeting with Tzipi Livni, Leader of the Opposition - Knesset

Meeting with Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel - President's residence, Jerusalem

For further information:

• Marcin Grajewski
  Press Team Leader
  Mobile: +32 498 98 15 50
• Richard Freedman
  Press Officer
  Mobile: +32 498 983 239