Today, the 18 March 2010, Hamdi Shaqqura on behalf of PCHR participated
in a joint meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European
Commission, Catherine Ashton, on the occasion of her first official visit to
the Gaza Strip.

PCHR sincerely appreciates Ashton’s
decision to visit Gaza, to meet with local organizations and to get a direct
knowledge of the situation on the ground.

PCHR took this opportunity to
express concern regarding the EU’s role in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
territory (oPt) by means of a letter that was handed to the High Representative
in person.

In particular, PCHR believes that the
international community, and the EU in particular, has been complicit in
Israel’s illegal occupation policy; a policy which has resulted in the tragic
reality of the Gaza Strip today. Indeed,
the EU not only continues to tolerate Israeli persistent violation of
international law but also it rewards Israel financially, despite the State’s
well documented disregard of the Palestinian people’s legitimate human rights.

This policy stands in stark contrast
with the EU’s stated values, and indeed with the legal rules which regulate the
relationship between the EU and Israel.

PCHR draw the attention to the EU’s
system of preferential trade links with Israel (the EU-Israel Association
Agreement), the Preamble of which highlights the importance that the Parties
attach to the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the
observance of human rights and democracy, noting that these principles “form
the very basis of the Association”.

Moreover Article 2 of the EU-Israel
Association Agreement contains a clause stating that the “Relations between the
Parties, as well as the provision of the Agreement itself, shall be based on
respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal
and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this
Agreement.”

The fact that respect for human
rights and democratic principles constitute an ‘essential element’ of this
agreement means that its violation shall be a ground for suspending the
operation of the treaty in whole or in part.

PCHR therefore asked the High
Representative to propose the suspension of the EU-Israel Association
Agreement; such a measure would be consistent with the European Union’s
founding values, which are the respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy,
equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights”. To this end, in its
relations with the wider world, the EU and its Member States have a legal
obligation to contribute to the protection of human rights and the strict
observance of international law.

The full text of the letter is
available at the link: