Palestinian Press ReleaseEuropean organisations today defied the refusal of EU-Ministers to publish a report compiled by their own diplomats regarding Israeli violations of international law with regard to East Jerusalem. Over 30 Jewish, Palestinian, peace, and anti-poverty groups from around Europe will publish the suppressed Report on their websites.
The report, which states that “Israel’s activities in Jerusalem are in violation of both its Roadmap obligations and international law” was shelved by EU foreign ministers at their 12 December Foreign Affairs (GAERC) meeting in Brussels, for fear of alienating Israel and reducing the EU’s influence.
Yet, protesting groups point out, only one day after the report’s suppression, Israel announced the building of 300 new homes in the Maale Adumim settlement, the largest in the occupied territories, in violation of the Road Map and international law.
Pierre Galand, Senator in the Belgian Parliament and Chair of the European Co-ordinating Committee on Palestine (ECCP) said: “European diplomats had the courage to stress the alarming situation in East Jerusalem. In order to force the EU-member states to respect their own commitment to International Law and Human Rights, we will publish the report on East Jerusalem on our websites, despite the EU refusal to do so.”
Dan Judelson, Secretary of European Jews for a Just Peace said “The EU are burying their heads in the sand and are thus co-responsible while East Jerusalem residents face repeated violations of international law and of simple standards of humanity, all at the hands of the Israeli state. If the EU sits on this report, we see it as our duty to make it as widely available as we can.”
Nick Dearden, Senior Campaigns Officer at War on Want said: “The desperation of Palestinians across the West Bank now threatens those who live in East Jerusalem, as Israel inflames and intensifies its Occupation. By suppressing the truth, which their own diplomats have made clear to them, European governments have sent a clear message to Israel that its aggression will be met only with silence.”
