Plaid MEP Jill Evans wants the European Union to put more pressure on Israel to end the siege of Gaza which has lasted for over a year.

Photo: Jill Evans MEP pictured in Brussels today at the symbolic protest "End the siege on Gaza", when Welsh was added to the list of different languages linked to the International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza www.end-gaza-siege.ps.

The European Parliament was due to vote on improved trading and other relations with Israel but a group of MEPs (including Ms Evans) were able to have the vote postponed. They hope this will send a signal to Israel to end the siege of the Gaza strip which is causing misery to thousands of Palestinians.

The MEP also took part in a symbolic protest in Brussels and added Welsh to the list of languages into which the slogan 'End the siege of Gaza' was translated (see picture attached).

The Plaid MEP said:

"I visited Gaza earlier this year and saw for myself the terrible conditions under which Palestinians are forced to live.

"This siege imposed by Israel's blockade of the territory has now lasted well over a year, and if anything the situation has been getting worse. Three quarters of a million people in Gaza are now dependent on UN food aid, there are frequent power cuts and the sewage and sanitation systems are near collapse.

"This is definitely not the time for the EU to be talking about improving relations with Israel and I'm pleased we were able to postpone the vote on this. I hope this will send a clear signal to the Israeli government that they need to improve their treatment of the Palestinian people before they can expect an improvement in relations with the EU."

Diwedd/Ends.