Following the adoption of the Israeli law introducing the death penalty for terrorists (see EUROPE 13840/16), the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, urged Israel to respect “its obligations under international law, as well as its commitment to democratic principles”, in a statement published on Tuesday 31 March.
But the EU, unable to sanction more Israeli settlers in the West Bank because of Hungary’s opposition in the EU Council, is sending no message about possible future measures to put pressure on the Israeli authorities, simply pointing out that the principles referred to above are enshrined “in the provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement”.
The EU27 noted “a grave regression” in the commitments made by the Israeli authorities at international level and said they were very concerned about “the de facto discriminatory character of the Bill”, which would apply only to Palestinians guilty of terrorism.
Ms Kallas added that the death penalty is a “violation of the absolute right to be free from torture” and has “no proven deterrent effect”.
See the EU statement: https://aeur.eu/f/lf9 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)