AMNESTY have branded the European Union's decision to stand by a trade deal with Israel as "one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU’s history".
It comes as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday to decide whether to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a trade and cooperation deal that gives Israel preferential access to the EU market.
Member states were presented with 10 options, including:
- Full suspension of the agreement
- The EU suspension of its preferential trade and/or research pillars
- An arms embargo
- Sanctions on Israeli ministers
- Halting visa-free travel for Israeli citizens to the EU
- Banning trade with Israeli settlements
However, none of the options gathered the necessary support during the meeting.
Reacting to the decision, Amnesty International’s secretary general Agnès Callamard said: “The EU’s refusal to suspend its agreement with Israel is a cruel and unlawful betrayal of the European project and vision, predicated on upholding international law and fighting authoritarian practices, of the European Union’s own rules and of the human rights of Palestinians.
"This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU’s history."
Callamard (below) said European leaders had been given the opportunity to take "a principled stand" against Israel’s crimes, but instead gave it "a greenlight to continue its genocide in Gaza, its unlawful occupation of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and its system of apartheid against Palestinians".
Callamard added: “The EU’s own review has clearly found that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the terms of the Association Agreement. Yet, instead of taking measures to stop it and prevent their own complicity, member states chose to maintain a preferential trade deal over respecting their international obligations and saving Palestinian lives.
“This is more than political cowardice. Every time the EU fails to act, the risk of complicity in Israel’s actions grows. This sends an extremely dangerous message to perpetrators of atrocity crimes that they will not only go unpunished but be rewarded.
“Victims are entitled to far more than empty words."
Callamard urged member states to take action individually or unilaterally to suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its violations of international law, including a comprehensive embargo on the export of arms and surveillance equipment and related technology, and a total ban on trade with, and investment in, Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
