The EU seems to keep its criticism of Israeli politics for private meetings. Questioned by several journalists on Thursday 19 July, following the Knesset's adoption of a law a few hours earlier declaring Israel the nation state of the Jewish people with Hebrew as the only official language, the EU spokesperson refused to condemn this law openly.
"Democracy and equality, including as regards minority rights, are essential values that define our societies and must continue to be the base as far as the partnership is concerned" between the EU and Israel, EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic told press, while underlining the sovereign right of Israel. She added that these values should be respected. "Everything should be done to avoid the obstacles which are, in the end, to prevent the two state solution from becoming a reality", she said.
Kocijancic said that the Europeans had repeatedly expressed their concerns, both publicly and privately, regarding the different projects subject to this law. International pressure, and especially pressure from the EU, has enabled the law to be relaxed a little. The EU's ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, was furthermore summoned by the foreign affairs minister on 13 July for "interference" in Israel's domestic affairs. Giaufret is reported to have warned the parliamentarians in majority against this law, which he is said to have described as discriminatory and counter to democratic principles.
The European Parliament's S&D group has meanwhile been much more direct. "The nation state law not only lowers the status of Palestinian Arab citizens and the Arab language in Israel, but also encourages segregation through the promotion of the Jewish settlement building as a national value", Spanish MEP Elena Valenciano, the S&D Group's vice-chair for foreign policy and human rights, stated. "The international community, including the EU, must say it loud and clear: Israel is not above the law and international standards. Its actions and decisions must have consequences", she warned, calling on the EU once again to assess its association agreement with Israel in the light of its Article 2 linked to the respect of human rights.
The law, adopted by 62 votes in favour and 55 against, describes the state of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people, where this people can apply its natural, cultural, religious and historical right, as it can its self-determination. The law says that the state considers that the development of Jewish settlements relates to the national interest and that the state will take measures to encourage, take forward and serve this interest. Israeli Arabs account for 17.5% of the total Israeli population. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)