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Press Release
PCHR and PICCR meet with Consul Generals of EU Countries and
Called on EU Member Countries to Support Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in OPT
Ref: 9/2001
Date: March 14, 2001
At the invitation of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights (PICCR), the Consul Generals of the European Union (EU) member countries attended a meeting at PCHR offices from 11:00 to 13:00 today.
At the meeting, Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR and Haider Abdel Shafi, Commissioner, PICCR, thanked the EU Consul Generals for their attendance and attention to the grave and deteriorating condition of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They also thanked the EU member countries for their continuing generous financial support and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian civilians of the OPT.
PCHR and PICCR expressed to the EU Consul Generals their profound concern regarding the current human rights situation. In particular, Sourani and Abdel Shafi discussed the unprecedented, excessive, and willful use of force against Palestinian civilians. They stated that 356 Palestinians had been killed and over 11,000 wounded and noted that a majority of these were civilians and an alarmingly high number were children. Sourani and Abdel Shafi also discussed the bombing of Palestinian residential areas as well as the social, political and economic consequences of the Israeli siege on the OPT. They also noted their belief that the worst is yet to come.
Raji Sourani and Haider Abdel Shafi emphasized the importance of EU response to Israel’s continued human rights abuses and grave breaches of international humanitarian law. PCHR and PICCR noted EU member countries’ historic leadership in the area of human rights around the world and their continuing importance as democratic examples and leaders.
However, both Sourani and Abdel Shafi noted the EU response to the current crisis has been inadequate, stating that Europe’s collective silence has implied implicit consent for Israel’s continuing violations. They maintained that the current disastrous and rapidly deteriorating human rights situation requires that the EU countries prioritize support for human rights and the implementation of international humanitarian law in the OPT. Sourani and Abdel Shafi also reminded EU member countries of their obligations under international law.
In particular, Sourani and Abdel Shafi called upon the EU member countries to:
1. Immediately provide international protection forces for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories against the killing and criminal acts perpetrated by Israeli forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under their protection.
2. Immediately reconvene a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations, particularly the de jure application of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the OPT.
3. Use effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights.
4. Support the recommendations of the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Commission of Inquiry.
5. Support the resolution of the 57th session of the Human Rights Commission.
