A group of 63 influential MEPs have called on the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement on accounts of Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
63 cross-party MEPs have called for tough measures against Israel on accounts of its massacre of more than 2,300 Palestinians in Gaza during last summer’s military offensive.
“Amnesty International and Palestinian organizations have documented that Israel deliberately targeted civilians and committed other war crimes during its recent onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza,” a letter dispatched by the MEPs read. “These are serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law that cannot be tolerated.”
“We call on the Commission to consider the suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel unless Israel takes substantial and immediate steps to bring its conduct in line with international law,” the MEPs demanded.
“Furthermore, the EU’s lack of substantial action with regards to Israel appears out of step with the speed at which it has implemented restrictive measures on Russia with regards to the Ukraine crisis in recent months, as well as the restrictive measures implemented against more than 30 other countries,” the letter added.
Article II of the EU-Israel partnership deal stipulates Israel’s respect for human rights and democratic principles. Any reluctance exhibited by the EU regarding violations of such provisos might be misunderstood by Tel Aviv as a message of lenience, the MEPs further warned.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, facilitates largely unrestricted trade between the EU and Israel, and allows Israel to participate in a wide range of commercial and economic agendas.
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28 January 2015 - 08:55
News ID: 667701
A group of 63 influential MEPs have called on the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement on accounts of Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
