European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine
{{short description|European parliament delegation}}
{{Use dmy|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name = European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine (DPAL)
| legislature = European Parliament
| coa_pic = European Parliament logo.svg
| house_type = Parliamentary delegation
| body = European Parliament
| leader1_type = Chair
| leader1 = Lynn Boylan
| party1 = The left
| election1 = 30 September 2024
| seats = 25 (currently){{url|https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/dpal/members}}
| political_groups1 =
:{{Color box|{{party color|Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats}}|border=silver}} S&D (6)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Renew Europe}}|border=silver}} Renew (4)
:{{Color box|{{party color|The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL}}|border=silver}} The Left (4)
:{{Color box|{{party color|European Conservatives and Reformists Group}}|border=silver}} ECR (4)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Greens–European Free Alliance}}|border=silver}} Verts/ALE (4)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Patriots for Europe}}|border=silver}} PfE (1)
:{{Color box|{{party color|European People's Party}}|border=silver}} PPE (1)
:{{Color box|{{party color|Non-attached members}}|border=silver}} NI (1)
| term_length = 5 years
| established =
| website = {{url|https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/dpal/home|Official website}}
}}
The Delegation for Relations with Palestine (DPAL) is an official delegation of the European Parliament responsible for maintaining parliamentary relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-193712/|title=Extraordinary Visit by EP Delegation for relations with the PLC to Ramallah, Gaza and Jerusalem – Draft report/Non-UN document|date=13 February 2009|website=United Nations|access-date=19 June 2025}} The delegation plays a key role in promoting the European Union’s commitment to a two-state solution in the region.{{cite web|url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/129348|title=A visit by a European Parliamentary delegation to Palestine canceled after it was blocked by Israel|date=23 May 2022|website=Wafa|access-date=19 June 2025}}
DPAL is part of the European Parliament's broader framework for international parliamentary cooperation and is composed of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from various political groups and member states.{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/european-parliaments-palestine-delegation-chair-urges-governments-to-listen-to-their-people/3216226|title=European Parliament's Palestine delegation chair urges governments to listen to their people|date=11 May 2024|website=Andalou Agency|access-date=19 June 2025}}
History
The European Parliament's engagement with the Palestinian people began in November 1993, shortly after the signing of the Oslo Accords between the Government of Israel and the PLO. In response, the Parliament created an ad hoc delegation to manage relations with the Palestinian leadership.{{cite web|url=https://eubam-rafah.eu/en/node/5057|title=EU in Israel and the Palestinian Territories|website=eubam-rafah.eu|access-date=19 June 2025}}
Following the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, the Parliament formalized its engagement by establishing a standing delegation, officially titled the "Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council (DPLC)", on 12 December 1996.{{cite book|url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004336346/B9789004336346_006.xml|title=The Diplomatic Role of the European Parliament’s Political Groups in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict|author=Yoav Shemer-Kunz|pages=76–98|date=16 February 2017|publisher=Brill Publishers|ISBN=978-90-04-33634-6|access-date=19 June 2025}}
On 9 September 2015, the delegation was renamed the "Delegation for relations with Palestine (DPAL)".{{cite web|url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=3039894&language=en|title=MEP calls for evaluating Israeli activities in Palestinian territories|date=24 May 2022|website=Kuwait News Agency|access-date=19 June 2025}} This change followed the Parliament's adoption of a resolution on 17 December 2014, expressing support in principle for the recognition of Palestinian statehood.{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20141212IPR01105/european-parliament-resolution-on-recognition-of-palestine-statehood|title=European Parliament resolution on recognition of Palestine statehood|date=17 December 2014|website=europarl.europa.eu|access-date=19 June 2025}}
Although political groups in the Parliament have occasionally proposed creating a single joint delegation for managing relations with both Israel and the Palestinian territories, such a proposal has not been implemented.{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/288850/DPAL_EN.pdf|title=(PDF) 2024-2029 Welcome to DPAL Delegation for relations with Palestine|date=May 2024|website=European Parliament|access-date=19 June 2025}}
From 1999, the delegation was chaired by Italian MEP Luisa Morgantini, who played a prominent role in advocating for Palestinian right of return, for which she was later incarcerated by the Israeli authorities.{{cite web|url=https://en.safa.news/post/3319/Israeli-Occupation-Forces-Arrest-Former-EU-Parliament-VP-Luisa-Morgantini-in-Masafer-Yatta|title=Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest Former EU Parliament VP, Luisa Morgantini, in Masafer Yatta|date=30 January 2025|website=Safa Press Agency|access-date=19 June 2025}} Morgantini led missions to Gaza, condemning the siege and describing the territory as an "open-air prison".{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-205465/|title=European Parliament delegation witnesses Gaza destruction – EU press release/Non-UN document|date=30 October 2006|website=United Nations The Question of Palestine|access-date=19 June 2025}}
In 2004, Cypriot MEP Adamos Adamou succeeded Morgantini as chair, serving until 2009. During his tenure, the delegation faced difficulties accessing Gaza, particularly after the 2008–2009 Gaza conflict.{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-6-2006-0588_EN.html|title=Joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0588/2006|date=15 November 2006|website=European Parliament|access-date=19 June 2025}} Israeli authorities began blocking DPAL visits, citing security concerns. These restrictions intensified in subsequent years, with delegations repeatedly denied entry to Gaza, compelling the delegation to meet Palestinian representatives primarily in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/05/23/european-parliament-s-delegation-cancels-trip-after-mep-barred-from-entering-israel|title=European Parliament's delegation cancels trip after MEP barred from entering Israel|date=23 May 2022|website=Euro News|access-date=19 June 2025}}
The delegation’s chairs throughout the 2010s, including Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, Neoklis Sylikiotis, and later Manu Pineda, continued to highlight human rights violations and the adverse effects of the Israeli blockade on Gaza.{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/european-lawmaker-accuses-israel-of-deliberately-targeting-journalists-in-gaza/3075019#|title=European lawmaker accuses Israel of deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza|date=6 December 2023|website=Andalou Agency|access-date=19 June 2025}} In response, Israeli authorities increasingly barred individual members from entry due to their activism or association with pro-Palestinian initiatives such as flotillas aiming to break the blockade.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/9/freedom-flotillas-a-history-of-attempts-to-break-israels-siege-of-gaza|title=Freedom Flotillas: A history of attempts to break Israel’s siege of Gaza|date=9 June 2025|website=Aljazeera|access-date=19 June 2025}}
In May 2022, Chair Manu Pineda was officially denied entry into Israel ahead of a planned delegation visit to investigate the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, sparking protests from, Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiohc.cu/fr/noticias/internacionales/288664-israel-blocks-eu-delegation-from-entering-occupied-palestinian-territories|title=Israel blocks EU delegation from entering occupied Palestinian territories|date=23 May 2022|website=Radio Habana Cuba|access-date=19 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-blocks-mep-diplomatic-visit-palestine|title=Israel blocks Spanish MEP from 'diplomatic visit' to Palestine|date=23 May 2022|website=The New Arab|access-date=19 June 2025}} Similar denials followed in 2023, with another delegation member, Ana Miranda Paz, deported despite prior approval, due to her participation in freedom flotillas.{{cite web|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-denies-entry-mep-diplomatic-visit-palestine|title=Israel denies entry to Spanish EU MP on diplomatic mission to Palestine for 'BDS support'|date=23 February 2023|website=The New Arab|access-date=19 June 2025}}
Similarly, In early 2025 when Chair Lynn Boylan and fellow MEP Rima Hassan were denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport, leading to the cancellation of the delegation’s mission.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-mep-europe-palestine-war-tel-aviv-aid-oct-7-hamas/|title=2 MEPs denied entry to Israel|date=25 February 2025|website=Politico|access-date=19 June 2025}} This action, including the confiscation of diplomatic passports and phones, was condemned by the European Parliament as "a serious affront to diplomatic norms" and the EU’s role in the Middle East peace process.{{cite web|url=https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-fein-mep-lynn-boylan-refused-entry-to-israel-while-travelling-with-eu-delegation/a1153231801.html|title=Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan refused entry to Israel while travelling with EU delegation|date=25 February 2025|website=Irish Independent|access-date=19 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/european-parliament-delegation-members-denied-entry-to-israel-in-controversial-move/3493136|title=European Parliament delegation members denied entry to Israel in controversial move|date=25 February 2025|website=Andalou Agency|access-date=19 June 2025}}
Members
As of the current term, the Delegation consists of 14 full members and 11 substitute members. It is chaired by Lynn Boylan (The Left, Ireland), with Barry Andrews (Renew, Ireland) serving as First Vice-Chair, and Matjaž Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) as Second Vice-Chair.
List of Chairs
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}