URU, Alm.del - 2008-09 - Bilag 230: Henvendelse af 20. juni 2009 fra Bodil Heinø vedr. Kvinder i dialog

8 May 2009To: EU ministers of foreign affairsRe. EU‐Israel upgrade and the forthcoming Association CouncilDear Minister,We are writing to you as a coalition of 21 European and international human rights, developmentand humanitarian organisations with regard to the ongoing debate about the upgrade of EU‐Israelrelations and in view of the 9thEU‐Israel Association Council meeting, which has been postponeduntil 15‐16 June 2009.At the previous Association Council in June 2008, the EU responded positively to Israel’s request toupgrade EU‐Israel relations. At that time many of the undersigned organisations asked that anyupgrade be clearly linked to tangible improvements in Israel’s respect for human rights, internationalhumanitarian law and its commitments under the Middle East Peace Process. In its December 2008Conclusions, the Council of the EU stated that the upgrading of its relations with Israel “must bebased on the shared values of both parties, and particularly on democracy, respect for human rights,the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, good governance and international humanitarian law”.However, since the EU’s decision, there has been no improvement but rather deterioration. Theblockade of Gaza, which constitutes a collective punishment of its 1.5 million people, the majority ofwhom are children, has not been lifted as requested by the EU but further tightened. Vital and basiccommodities (cash, food and fuel items, educational supplies, construction materials) are routinelydenied entry. The Gaza war in December 2008 ‐ January 2009, which caused at least 1,300 deaths,has further aggravated the crisis caused by the protracted blockade. Rehabilitation efforts to whichEU donors have pledged support are blocked, while thousands of families remain displaced, unableto rebuild their homes. There are also allegations of serious violations of international law by allparties that have not yet been properly investigated.In the West Bank, the expansion of Israeli settlements has not stopped as requested by the EU butaccelerated: in 2008, there was a 60% increase in newly built structures and an eight‐fold increase inconstruction tenders compared to the previous year.1Physical obstacles to movement in the WestBank paralysing the Palestinian economy and daily lives have not been removed as requested by theEU but increased from 602 in June 2008 to 632 in March 2009.2Illegal practices in and around EastJerusalem 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 Israelihousing units to be built in East Jerusalem.3All these policies and actions are breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law andof Israel’s peace process commitments. Repeated EU requests to change these practices have notbeen heeded. Israel does have legitimate security concerns, for example with regard to rocket andmortar attacks by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza, but this does not justify violations of humanrights and international law. In fact, the above‐mentioned Israeli policies and actions in Gaza and theWest Bank including East Jerusalem are counterproductive to assuring the long‐term security of bothIsraelis and Palestinians which requires a just and peaceful resolution of the conflict.1Peace2UN

3) Take further steps to ensure that any existing cooperation instruments between the EUandIsrael are only applied to Israel proper and in no case to the Israeli settlements in theOccupiedPalestinian Territory;4) Urge Israel to resume as soon as possible its stalled human rights dialogue with the EU;and5) Ensure that any future EU‐Israel Action Plan contains concrete action points regardingIsrael’sobligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and the peace process,which are missing in the current Action Plan.Let us stress that we support enhanced cooperation between the EU and third countries andunderstand the benefits that an upgrade of relations with Israel could bring to both sides. However,we believe the EU has to link the upgrade with Israel to its obligations under international law andunder the peace process in order to help induce positive change in its policies as well as to ensurethe EU’s credibility as a supporter of international law and human rights worldwide.Yours sincerely,Nicolas BegerDirector EU OfficeAmnesty InternationalPol DegreveDirectorBroederlijk Delen (Belgium)Cornelia Füllkrug‐WeitzelDirectorBread for the World (Germany)Chris BainDirectorCAFOD (UK)CARE France:Philippe Leveque,DirectorCARE Nederland:Guus Eskens,DirectorCARE Ősterreich:Ulrike Schelander,DirectorCARE UK:Geoffrey Dennis,Chief ExecutiveAntoine MalafosseDélégué GénéralComité Catholique contre la Faim et pour leDéveloppement (France)Daleep Mukarji (OBE)DirectorChristian Aid UKBernd NillesSecretary GeneralCIDSERifat Odeh KassisPresidentDefence for Children InternationalBo ForsbergSecretary GeneralDiakonia (Sweden)Dr. Claudia WarningMember of Board of Directors, InternationalProgrammesEvangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)Mickaël ClémentPresident

Enfants du Monde‐Droits de l'Homme (France)Pauliina ArolaDirector of International CooperationFinnChurchAid (Finland)Steven JamesChief Executive OfficerMedical Aid For PalestiniansMr. Thomas GebauerExecutive Directormedico international (Germany)Dr. Martin Bröckelmann‐SimonManaging Director, International CooperationMisereor (Germany)Jeremy HobbsExecutive DirectorOxfam InternationalClaudette WerleighSecretary GeneralPax Christi InternationalSave the Children UK:David Mepham,Director ofPolicySave the Children Sweden:Sanna Johnson,Regional Director, SCS MENAJustin KilcullenDirectorTrócaire (Ireland)Jan GruitersChairpersonUnited Civilians for Peace (Netherlands)(A coalition of Dutch organisations: Oxfam Novib,Cordaid, ICCO and IKV Pax Christi)Justin ByworthActing Chief ExecutiveWorld Vision UK