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1. The EU Association Agreement, concluded in 1995, was part of the Peace Process. Its aims include the encouragement 'of regional co-operation with a view to the consolidation of peaceful co-existence and economic and political stability'. The 'observance of human rights and democracy' are identified 'as the very basis of the Association'. Beyond that the Association Agreement specifies a need to maintain and develop political dialogue between all the parties.
2. The European
Parliament called for its suspension in April 2002 following Israel's refusal
to allow EU heads to meet with Arafat in April.
3. The majority of
the Council of Ministers want to suspend the Agreement, but this has been
blocked by the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.
4. The European Jews
for a Just Peace are calling for co-ordinated action against this decision of
the Council of Ministers.
5. However, a few
weeks ago, the Council of Ministers agreed in Luxemburg to defer any action
over the 'illegal' inclusion of settlement-made goods in the exports to the
European under the Israel Association agreement.
6. As Brian Whittaker
pointed out in The Guardian (30 April 2001), Israel had been repeatedly shown to have
breached the technical terms of the agreement: allowing products from the
Israeli settlements to be included (and even sneaking orange juice from Brazil
into the deal), but making it well-nigh impossible for the Palestinians to
export any of their produce directly to the European market. Some are
re-exported as Israeli, depriving Palestinians of much of the revenue.
7. As early as 1997
indeed, an EU Commission visit to Israel concluded: 'the validity of all
preferential certificates issued by Israel for all products' was in doubt.
8. Now that power in
the Israeli cabinet rests on two alleged War Criminals and now that Israel has
decided that any Israeli co-operating with the ICC can be indicted for treason,
it is surely time for the Blair Government to accept the majority position of
the EU Council of Ministers.
For further detailed analysis and information see the (c.5,700 word - pdf file 523kb) document The European Union-Israel Association Agreement: An Introduction. This was prepared by Aprodev, an association of the 15 major Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox development and humanitarian aid organizations in Europe, and published in March 2002.