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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| EU's foreign chief in Gaza visit | EU's foreign chief in Gaza visit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The EU's new foreign policy chief has been in Gaza on one of the highest level visits there by a Western official since Hamas took power. | |
| Baroness Ashton's trip comes amid a new push by the EU and US to revive stalled Middle East peace talks. | Baroness Ashton's trip comes amid a new push by the EU and US to revive stalled Middle East peace talks. |
| The international quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, US, UN and Russia - is to meet in Moscow later. | The international quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, US, UN and Russia - is to meet in Moscow later. |
| As Lady Ashton arrived, militants in Gaza fired a rocket into Israel, killing a man, Israeli officials said. | As Lady Ashton arrived, militants in Gaza fired a rocket into Israel, killing a man, Israeli officials said. |
| The rocket struck the Netiv Ha'assera kibbutz in southern Israel killing a foreign agricultural worker, according to reports. | The rocket struck the Netiv Ha'assera kibbutz in southern Israel killing a foreign agricultural worker, according to reports. |
| BARONESS ASHTON Has a degree in economics from the University of LondonAwarded a life peerage by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999Made leader of UK upper house, the House of Lords, by Gordon Brown in 2007Became EU Trade Commissioner in 2008First High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in enlarged EU Baroness Ashton profile Deadly rocket attack from Gaza | BARONESS ASHTON Has a degree in economics from the University of LondonAwarded a life peerage by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999Made leader of UK upper house, the House of Lords, by Gordon Brown in 2007Became EU Trade Commissioner in 2008First High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in enlarged EU Baroness Ashton profile Deadly rocket attack from Gaza |
| Although militants in Gaza have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, this is the first fatality since the end of Israel's offensive there in January 2009. | Although militants in Gaza have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, this is the first fatality since the end of Israel's offensive there in January 2009. |
| Baroness Ashton said after the attack: "I condemn any kind of violence. We have got to find a peaceful solution to the issues and problems... we need to move forward." | Baroness Ashton said after the attack: "I condemn any kind of violence. We have got to find a peaceful solution to the issues and problems... we need to move forward." |
| Baroness Ashton will later join US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has already arrived in the Russian capital for the talks. | Baroness Ashton will later join US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has already arrived in the Russian capital for the talks. |
| The Moscow meeting will "demonstrate international support" for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley. | The Moscow meeting will "demonstrate international support" for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley. |
| Baroness Ashton swept into Gaza City from Israel in a convoy of armoured cars and was taken to a UN food distribution centre. | Baroness Ashton swept into Gaza City from Israel in a convoy of armoured cars and was taken to a UN food distribution centre. |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says she is not expected to meet Hamas leaders during her brief visit. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says she is not expected to meet Hamas leaders during her brief visit. |
| The EU is the largest contributor of aid to the Palestinians, delivering 1bn euros ($1.4bn; £890m) a year. | The EU is the largest contributor of aid to the Palestinians, delivering 1bn euros ($1.4bn; £890m) a year. |
| 'Need for aid' | 'Need for aid' |
| Baroness Ashton told the BBC there was "a need to get aid through" to Gaza. | Baroness Ashton told the BBC there was "a need to get aid through" to Gaza. |
| Only two European foreign ministers have come to Gaza in the past year, our correspondent notes. | Only two European foreign ministers have come to Gaza in the past year, our correspondent notes. |
| Foreign officials are often refused entry by Israel, or their governments choose not to come because they do not recognise Hamas. | Foreign officials are often refused entry by Israel, or their governments choose not to come because they do not recognise Hamas. |
| The visit has been welcomed by the United Nations, which says the blockade of Gaza has left hundreds of thousands in Gaza living in poverty. | The visit has been welcomed by the United Nations, which says the blockade of Gaza has left hundreds of thousands in Gaza living in poverty. |
| The head of the UN's refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, John Ging, said the people of Gaza were hoping for a single outcome from Baroness Ashton's visit - a lifting of the Israeli siege. | The head of the UN's refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, John Ging, said the people of Gaza were hoping for a single outcome from Baroness Ashton's visit - a lifting of the Israeli siege. |
| "We have to have action. A thousand days and a thousand nights of a medieval siege is far too much. It's a shame - it's a disgrace," he said. | "We have to have action. A thousand days and a thousand nights of a medieval siege is far too much. It's a shame - it's a disgrace," he said. |
| Baroness Ashton has been criticised as too inexperienced for the new job of EU High Representative, a post created by the EU's Lisbon Treaty. | Baroness Ashton has been criticised as too inexperienced for the new job of EU High Representative, a post created by the EU's Lisbon Treaty. |
| Violence | Violence |
| Her visit comes as the US and Israel try to bridge divisions over Israeli plans for new building in occupied East Jerusalem. | Her visit comes as the US and Israel try to bridge divisions over Israeli plans for new building in occupied East Jerusalem. |
| The Palestinians have pulled out of indirect talks because of the plan. | The Palestinians have pulled out of indirect talks because of the plan. |
| Israel's building announcement has provoked fresh violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. | Israel's building announcement has provoked fresh violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. |
| Mrs Clinton has described the announcement - made while US Vice-President Joe Biden was in Israel last week - as "insulting". | Mrs Clinton has described the announcement - made while US Vice-President Joe Biden was in Israel last week - as "insulting". |
| She has made a series of demands of Mr Netanyahu - on the housing project and on showing his commitment to peace talks. | She has made a series of demands of Mr Netanyahu - on the housing project and on showing his commitment to peace talks. |
| The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamist movement Hamas took power. | The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamist movement Hamas took power. |
| In 2008 Israel launched a three-week offensive against Gaza which killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and caused widespread damage to its infrastructure. | In 2008 Israel launched a three-week offensive against Gaza which killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and caused widespread damage to its infrastructure. |