* Call on EU leaders to support their demands for an independent and impartial enquiry into the sabotage of the MV Saoirse and Juliano by Israeli authorities
Following the sabotage of two boats intending to sail to Gaza as part of the humanitarian Freedom Flotilla II, the three Members of the European Parliament who are participants in the Flotilla, Mr. Paul Murphy MEP (GUE/NGL), Ms. Nicole Kiil-Nielson MEP (Green/EFA) and Mr. Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), have today written to the Presidents of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The letter states that, “these acts of sabotage threatened the lives of all the participants aboard. If the boats had set sail at speed, the damage to the propeller shaft would have gradually resulted in the propeller coming up through the bottom of the boat, causing a flood in the engine room, thereby causing the boat to sink.”
In their letter, the three MEPs have called on the Presidents of the European institutions and the High Representative to “vigorously and publicly support” their demands for “an independent and impartial enquiry into these acts of sabotage” and for their condemnation of “these acts of sabotage by the Israeli authorities”.
The letter also asks that, “In light of these serious events, how do you intend to take up the above mentioned demands through your official and diplomatic contacts with the Israeli authorities?
“What concrete steps are you willing to take to ensure the protection of all European citizens, including the elected Members of the European Parliament?”
A copy of the letter can be found at http://www.paulmurphymep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/FlotillaLetter.pdf