Brussels, 12/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - In response to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) which, on 6 December, called on the EU to “reflect on its poor record to end impunity for serious human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) violations by Israel against Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” (see EUROPE 10980), Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for High Representative Catherine Ashton, told EUROPE on 11 December that respect of human rights and IHL “are at the heart of our political dialogue with all our European Neighbourhood Policy partners, and Israel is no exception”. “We recall that failure to 'upgrade' relations with Israel is linked not only to the question of the settlements but also to respect of international humanitarian law”, she explained. According to Kocijancic, the EU considers the problem to be of essential importance and all channels available on this are constantly being used. She states that the EEAS is very active in keeping such issues on the agenda of internal EU debates so that the EU stance is as united and coherent as possible towards the Israelis. The EU makes a point of underlining the importance of accountability through “silent diplomacy” and official communiqués, the spokesperson also points out. (CG/transl.jl)