Europaudvalget 2008-09
EUU Alm.del Bilag 418
Offentligt
8May2009To:EUministersofforeignaffairsRe.EU‐IsraelupgradeandtheforthcomingAssociationCouncilDearMinister,Wearewritingtoyouas acoalitionof21Europeanandinternationalhuman rights,developmentandhumanitarianorganisationswithregardtotheongoingdebateabouttheupgradeofEU‐Israelrelations and in view of the 9thEU‐Israel Association Council meeting, which has been postponeduntil15‐16June2009.AtthepreviousAssociationCouncilinJune2008,theEUrespondedpositivelytoIsrael’srequesttoupgrade EU‐Israel relations. At that time many of the undersigned organisations asked that anyupgradebeclearlylinkedtotangibleimprovementsinIsrael’srespectforhumanrights,internationalhumanitarianlawanditscommitmentsundertheMiddleEastPeaceProcess.InitsDecember2008Conclusions, the Council of the EU stated that the upgrading of its relations with Israel “must bebasedonthesharedvaluesofbothparties,andparticularlyondemocracy,respectforhumanrights,theruleoflawandfundamentalfreedoms,goodgovernanceandinternationalhumanitarianlaw”.However, since the EU’s decision, there has been no improvement but rather deterioration. TheblockadeofGaza,whichconstitutesacollectivepunishmentofits1.5millionpeople,themajorityofwhomarechildren,hasnotbeenliftedasrequestedbytheEUbutfurthertightened.Vitalandbasiccommodities(cash,foodandfuelitems,educationalsupplies,constructionmaterials)areroutinelydeniedentry.TheGazawarinDecember2008‐January2009,whichcausedatleast1,300deaths,hasfurtheraggravatedthecrisiscausedbytheprotractedblockade.RehabilitationeffortstowhichEUdonorshavepledgedsupportareblocked,whilethousandsoffamiliesremaindisplaced,unableto rebuild their homes. There are also allegations of serious violations of international law by allpartiesthathavenotyetbeenproperlyinvestigated.IntheWestBank,theexpansionofIsraelisettlementshasnotstoppedasrequestedbytheEUbutaccelerated:in2008,therewasa60%increaseinnewlybuiltstructuresandaneight‐foldincreaseinconstructiontenderscomparedtothepreviousyear.1PhysicalobstaclestomovementintheWestBankparalysingthePalestinianeconomyanddailyliveshavenotbeenremovedasrequestedbytheEUbutincreasedfrom602inJune2008to632inMarch2009.2IllegalpracticesinandaroundEastJerusalem including new settlements, evictions of Palestinian families and house demolitions havealso accelerated: in 2008, there was a six‐fold increase in the number of approved new IsraelihousingunitstobebuiltinEastJerusalem.3Allthesepoliciesandactionsarebreachesofhumanrightsandinternationalhumanitarianlawandof Israel’s peace process commitments. Repeated EU requests to change these practices have notbeenheeded.Israeldoeshavelegitimatesecurityconcerns,forexamplewithregardtorocketandmortarattacksbyPalestinianarmedgroupsfromGaza,butthisdoesnotjustifyviolationsofhumanrightsandinternationallaw.Infact,theabove‐mentionedIsraelipoliciesandactionsinGazaandtheWestBankincludingEastJerusalemarecounterproductivetoassuringthelong‐termsecurityofbothIsraelisandPalestinianswhichrequiresajustandpeacefulresolutionoftheconflict.12
PeaceNow:2008–theYearinSettlementsinReview.UNOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs:MovementandAccessReportNo.68andNo.87.3PeaceNow:ibid.
Giventhesedevelopments,wecallontheEUto:1) Confirm publicly that the upgrading of mutual relations is put on hold, pending tangibleprogress in Israel’s respect for human rights, international humanitarian law and its peaceprocesscommitments;2) Use the opportunity of the EU‐Israel Association Council to advance the necessary stepsincludinganimmediateendtotheGazablockadeandtothesettlementexpansionandhousedemolitions;3) Take further steps to ensure that any existing cooperation instruments between the EU andIsraelareonlyappliedtoIsraelproperandinnocasetotheIsraelisettlementsintheOccupiedPalestinianTerritory;4) UrgeIsraeltoresumeassoonaspossibleitsstalledhumanrightsdialoguewiththeEU;and5) EnsurethatanyfutureEU‐IsraelActionPlancontainsconcreteactionpointsregardingIsrael’sobligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and the peace process,whicharemissinginthecurrentActionPlan.Let us stress that we support enhanced cooperation between the EU and third countries andunderstandthebenefitsthatanupgradeofrelationswithIsraelcouldbringtobothsides.However,webelievetheEUhastolinktheupgradewithIsraeltoitsobligationsunderinternationallawandunderthepeaceprocessinordertohelpinducepositivechangeinitspoliciesaswellastoensuretheEU’scredibilityasasupporterofinternationallawandhumanrightsworldwide.Yourssincerely,
NicolasBegerDirectorEUOfficeAmnestyInternational
DaleepMukarji(OBE)DirectorChristianAidUK
PolDegreveDirectorBroederlijkDelen(Belgium)BerndNillesSecretaryGeneralCIDSE
ChrisBainDirectorCAFOD(UK)
RifatOdehKassisPresidentDefenceforChildrenInternational
AntoineMalafosseDéléguéGénéralComitéCatholiquecontrelaFaimetpourleDéveloppement(France)
BoForsbergSecretaryGeneralDiakonia(Sweden)
Dr.ClaudiaWarningMemberofBoardofDirectors,InternationalProgrammesEvangelischerEntwicklungsdienst(Germany)
JeremyHobbsExecutiveDirectorOxfamInternational
MickaëlClémentPresidentEnfantsduMonde‐Droitsdel'Homme(France)
ClaudetteWerleighSecretaryGeneralPaxChristiInternational
StevenJamesChiefExecutiveOfficerMedicalAidForPalestinians
JustinKilcullenDirectorTrócaire(Ireland)
Mr.ThomasGebauerExecutiveDirectormedicointernational(Germany)Dr.MartinBröckelmann‐SimonManagingDirector,InternationalCooperationMisereor(Germany)
JanGruitersChairpersonUnitedCiviliansforPeace(Netherlands)(AcoalitionofDutchorganisations:OxfamNovib,Cordaid,ICCOandIKVPaxChristi)
Copiesto:BenitaFerrero‐Waldner,CommissionerforExternalRelationsandEuropeanNeighbourhoodPolicyJavierSolana,HighRepresentativefortheCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy