Brussels, 09/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 6 December, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) called on the EU “to reflect on its poor record to end impunity for serious human rights and international humanitarian law violations by Israel against Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”. The EMHRN does not believe that the EU is doing enough to tackle these violations - be it in its bilateral relations with Israel or within the United Nations.
During the 15th EU-NGO Forum on Human Rights, the EMHRN called on the EU to urge Israel to ensure “accountability” for violations of international humanitarian law by its army in the Occupied Palestinian Territories “by conducting investigations into alleged violations in line with international standards, prosecuting and sentencing those responsible”.
The EU must also urge the Israeli government to implement all the recommendations of the Turkel Commission - set up by the Israeli government on the Gaza flotilla raid and the blockade of Gaza in May 2010 - and immediately to provide a clear timetable of implementation. Lastly, the EU must ensure that the Palestinian victims have adequate access to Israeli courts and effective remedy.
When questioned by EUROPE on this issue, the European External Action Service did not respond. At the opening of the forum, EU Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis underlined that the theme of the forum on responsibility “bears witness to the EU's firm commitment to ensure that where human rights violations occur, the victims have access to justice and remedy”. (CG/transl.fl)