"It takes imagination to build the world of tomorrow".Greens/EFA Co-President Dany Cohn-Bendit addresses French President Francois Hollande in the European Parliament, Tuesday 5th February 2013. "If we try to create the world of tomorrow with yesterday's ideas, it won't work".
"You're going in the same direction as Mr Chavez, Mr Castro and all of those totalitarian governments. Ask why are the homeless afraid? Why are intellectuals afraid? Why are many citizens afraid? If you have the majority, the minority has the right not to live in fear."
Israel has to understand that it is in it's own interest that there be a Palestinian state and that right now leaders like Abbas are irreplaceable. Israel wants talks without pre-conditions, but Israel is changing the conditions on the ground. Hundreds of thousands or Israeli's are opposed to Mr. Netanyahu's policies. Madame Ashton, you mention the expansion of settlements, but we ought to condemn further construction of settlements. We need to show that either they put an immediate stop to the expansion of settlements or the EU will be pushed into immediately recognising Palestine. If we don't, we will be back here in a years time and there will be no negotiations.