EU must insist on human rights in ties with Israel

17 June 2008

A coalition of development, humanitarian, peace and human rights organisations expressed their intense disappointment at the absence of a strong emphasis on improving conditions on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory and on human rights commitments in the EU’s declaration on relations with Israel. The declaration presented at the EU-Israel Association Council in Luxembourg yesterday opens the way to upgrading mutual ties but fails to effectively link it to ending the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and to ensuring respect for human rights throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel itself.

The coalition calls on the EU to take a clear and committed stance on all human rights issues and to give much greater priority to improving conditions on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory during the upcoming negotiations process in which the details of the upgrade will be hammered out.

Adam Leach, Regional Manager for Oxfam International, said: "As Israel’s pre-eminent trade partner, the EU must use the upcoming upgrade negotiations process to ensure Israel ends the ever-worsening Gaza blockade, lifts movement restrictions and halts settlement expansion in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Closer ties with Israel must be accompanied by tangible improvements on the ground. The security of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians must be the top priority driving EU policy towards both sides.”

Kamel Jendoubi, President of the Euromediterranean Human Rights Network, added: "The EU must be consistent in upholding its human rights principles in its foreign relations, and Israel cannot be an exception to this rule. A weak or ambiguous EU stance on human rights in relations with Israel sends the wrong message also to other countries in the EU Neighbourhood, who could see it as a license to ignore EU engagement with regard to their own human rights records."

The coalition further emphasises that the EU should use the upgrading process to insist on Israel’s respect for international humanitarian and human rights law. EU must also prevent any extension of the benefits of mutual cooperation to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

For further information, please contact:

Martin Konecny, Crisis Action, +32 (0)2 737 1498, +32 (0)484 601 283
Michael Bailey, Oxfam International Jerusalem Office, + 972 (0)2 656 6234 ext 223, + 972 (0)572 233 014
Sandrine Grenier, Advocacy Director, Euromediterranean Human Rights Network, +32 (0)486 280 695
William Bell, Middle East Advocacy Coordinator, Christian Aid, +44 (0)7973827535
Koen De Groof, Policy Officer, CIDSE, +32 (0)2 213 04 32, +32 (0)486 37 01 01
Merijn de Jong, Coordinator Media & communication, UCP, +31627249753

The organisations in the coalition are:

Broederlijk Delen, Belgium
CARE International Austria
CARE International UK
Christian Aid, UK
Cordaid, Netherlands
Diakonia, Sweden
Euromediterranean Human Rights Network
Oxfam International
Trocaire, Ireland
United Civilians for Peace, The Netherlands