Dr Hanan Ashrawi urges the EU not to reward violations of human rights and democratic principles at the EU-Israel Association Council meeting
On the occasion of today’s EU-Israel Association Council’s meeting in Brussels, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, said, “We call on the EU to reconsider its relations with Israel as an occupying power, and to revoke any preferential treatment Israel receives in view of that country’s wilful and persistent violations of its agreements and obligations. Israel must be brought into compliance with Article 2 of the Euro-Mediterranean agreement, which conditions Israel’s membership on respect for human rights and democratic principles, and Article 83, which precludes applicability to all the occupied territories and therefore excludes settlement products. This meeting is also the proper time to uphold the conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s May 14th report, which reaffirms the commitment of EU member states to adhere to existing legislation and bilateral arrangements applicable to Israel’s illegal settlements and economic activities beyond the June 4 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem.”
Dr. Ashrawi explained, “While, ostensibly, the EU is not upgrading its political relationship with Israel, it is significantly expanding cooperation between government agencies and within business sectors that are part of the existing Action Plan in order to maximize Israel’s benefit. Doing so essentially separates issues of international law and principles from issues of trade and economy, allowing the EU to ignore Israel’s on-going violations and unilateral measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Dr. Ashrawi added, “in addition to the other forty-nine sectors, the EU’s decision to allow Israel to expand co-operation in the Agreement on Conformity, Assessment, and Acceptance of industrial products (ACAA) pertaining to generic drugs, offers Israel a tremendous economic advantage and further complicates monitoring of certain settlement products.”
“The EU-Israel Association Council meeting is an opportunity for the EU to ensure that it renders any type of economic relationship with Israel contingent on that country’s compliance with its international obligations. Rather than rewarding Israel by giving it preferential treatment, the EU should use its economic influence to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. As the market for 60% of Israel’s exports, the EU has the ability to prevent Israel from destroying the chances for peace. All it needs is the political will,” concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
