Brussels, 19/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Following the inspection carried out by the Israeli Navy of the French boat “Dignité-Al Karama”, which sought to force its way through the Gaza blockade, Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-Presidents of the Greens/EFA Group at the European Parliament, called on the Israeli authorities to avoid any action that would aggravate the situation and to guarantee the safety and physical integrity of the 16 activists captured. They announce that they have sent a letter to Catherine Ashton, High Representative for EU foreign policy, calling on her to request that Israeli authorities restore lines of communication between the Dignité Al-Karama and the outside world.
The EMHRN (Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network) has stated its disapproval and broadcast the call made by the Israeli associations that are part of its network. These associations sent an urgent letter of protest to the justice and finance ministers and to the Knesset last week. They intend to refer the matter to the Israeli High Court of Justice to quash the new anti-boycott law that places non-violent action of economic, academic and cultural boycott outside the law. (F.B./transl.jl)