Brussels, 26/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - At mid-April, the European Union's Middle East observatories on human rights and Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories presented their reports on the situation during the period from 16 June to 15 October 1999 in the first case, and from 1 September to 31 December 1999 in the latter. The observatories announced certain positive developments, but also concern about the ongoing nature of other activities to which the EU continues to be opposed.
The report on human rights in the Occupied Territories observes the following:
- concerning Israel, the Barak government, in office since July 1999, is in the process of reviewing human rights legislation and practices. In particular, the Israeli Supreme Court last September declared illegal different methods of interrogation and asserted that the use of physical force against suspects has no legal foundation. Further, in October, the Israeli Home Affairs Minister announced that, to authorise Palestinians to continue to reside and work in Jerusalem, the government will no longer demand proof of seven years' residence, but will simply ask Palestinians to demonstrate that they have "appropriate ties" with the town (the EU observers wonder what these "appropriate ties" might be). The report also mentions the creation of a safe passage between Gaza and the West Bank, which has made it possible to increase Palestinians' movement between the two regions, and statements by the Israeli Justice Minister favouring an end to the state of emergency (in effect in Israel since 1948);
- with regard to the conduct of the Palestinian Authority, the report, noting that the Palestinians are not entitled to ratify international human rights instruments since Palestine is not an independent state, points out that President Arafat has stated on several occasions that the Palestinian Authority is "determined to respect all internationally recognised human rights standards and to incorporate them fully into Palestinian legislation". However, the Observatory recognises that the situation in areas under the exclusive control of the Palestinian Authority "still leaves room for improvement with regard to respect for human rights" and mentions in particular the practice of torture and detention without sentencing (which concerns at least 200 people, most of whom for more than a year). The General Consuls of EU Member States in Jerusalem and the Heads of EU Missions in Tel Aviv, who draft this report, nonetheless observe that, in the period under consideration, no death sentences have been carried out (though one was pronounced) and that, while democratic local elections are still being awaited, work is continuing with a view to the drafting of a Palestinian constitution.
The EU observatory dealing with the Jewish Settlements points out in its report that there are around 200 settlements of this kind in the Occupied Territories (145-169 in the West Bank, 18 in Gaza and at least 12 within the city limits of East Jerusalem) and that the new Israeli government has agreed not to build any new settlements, but also "not to cause injury to existing colonies". However, the report, which states that the EU remains opposed to activities linked to the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories, notes that it is sometimes difficult to make a distinction between new settlements and the extension of existing ones and observes that, since the Barak government has been in place, no more illegal settlements have been discovered, and that the dismantling of settlements of this kind is proof of this government's determination to "stem the establishment of illegal settlements". However, illegal establishments still exist and construction work and illegal extensions are still in progress in existing colonies, and the EU observers note that it remains to be seen whether or not the announced moratorium on the issue of new building permits constitutes an important change of policy by the government", a policy that "continues to undermine and complicate negotiations on final status".
