Brussels, 31/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - A few months after a war in Gaza claimed over 2,200 lives, Issam Younis, the head of the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, believes that Israel must be made to face its responsibility.
“Responsibility is lacking”, Younis told EUROPE on 31 October, believing that this war was “unprecedented” in terms of the crimes committed. In his view, “justice is a pillar for peace. Justice must be brought to the victims”. Prosecution is not only a question of justice but “a preventive action”. “There will be other wars if Israel thinks that it has immunity. Responsibility is needed to ensure that things will not be repeated”, he added.
In Younis' opinion, the international community's main responsibility, according to international law, is moral and political. Those who have perpetrated the atrocities must be held responsible. “The international criminal court is the last option for the Palestinians”, Younis stated, convinced that the EU should push Palestine to go to this court.
The EU should reconsider its commitment. Younis believed that the European Union should reconsider its commitment. “The EU has a significant interest in playing a political role for the situation to change”, he added. In his view, while the EU plays the role of donor - it is moreover the main donor for the Palestinian Authority - it must also contribute to peace. “Peace and security are still far off”, he said. “There is peace and security neither for the Israelis nor for the Palestinians”, he added.
Younis recalled that the EU supported a two state solution. He also knows that with the expansion of the settlements “very soon, it will be too late. Time is ticking”, he said. He stated that during this time, Israel was changing the geography and democracy of the territory, and he underlined that “occupation is the key word”, and must stop.
Questioned on the fact that the EU regularly expresses its discontent with the new colonies, Younis replied that Israel was taking action and the others were just talking. “This must stop”, he added, stating that the EU knew exactly what to do. He highlighted the fact that funding should be accompanied by political pressure, that the EU had agreements and bilateral relations with Israel, and that it should recognise the state of Palestine. However, decisions have been long awaited - for 20 years, the EU has been wondering whether or not to label products coming from the settlements. Younis underlined that the EU was part of the Geneva Convention and should respect it. (CG)