To: Jose
Manuel Barroso
President
of the Commission
Commission
Europeene
B -1049 Brussels
Belgium
Amsterdam, 3 July 2006
Dear
President Barroso,
We have
noted the statements of 30 January, 9 May 2006 and 19
June 2006, made on behalf of the Quartet (United
Nations,
United States, European Union
and
Russian Federation).
In these
statements the Quartet has endorsed a European Union
proposal for a temporary international mechanism,
limited in scope and duration, which operates
with full transparency and accountability and which will
meet certain needs of the Palestinian people, including
support for health services, fuel and utilities and
basic needs. It is hoped that additional donors,
including Israel, will be found to participate
in this mechanism, which will be reviewed after three
months.
The
Palestinian Authority is requested to commit itself to
the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous
agreements, including the Road Map. These demands on
the Palestinian Authority are, of course, essential if
there is to be a lasting peace.
However,
we must put the question to the European Union as to why
it, and the other parties of the Quartet, has not made a
single demand of the Government of Israel. This is
especially disturbing in the light of the current
actions of
Israel in the Gaza Strip,
Jerusalem and the West Bank.
It is the Government of Israel which has rejected
countless United Nations resolutions and its obligations
under the Geneva Convention and international law. Israel continues its occupation and expansion of
settlements in East Jerusalem and the
West Bank. It is the Government of Israel
which has annexed large parts of the
West Bank. Israel ignored the decision of the
International Court of Justice in July 2004 concerning
the construction of the Separation Wall, and has
established an apartheid system of roads and many
checkpoints in the Occupied West Bank.
It should
be apparent to the Member States of the European Union
that the Government of Israel has not made any
concessions which would lead to Israeli-Palestinian
peace. We question whether the Government of Israel has
acknowledged the Palestinians’ right to exist and
self-determination.
In
addition, the extrajudicial executions, arrests and
wanton killing by the Israeli army of Palestinian
civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including women, children and
men, cannot be excused for any reason. The Government
of Israel has stated openly that it intends to continue
these actions, despite world criticism, including that
of the United Nations Secretary-General. We ask the
officials of the European Union how many innocent people
in the Gaza Strip will be killed before
Israel is restrained in its murderous
policies against a captive population. While we fully
condemn the Qassem rocket attacks on Sderot from Gaza these attacks cannot be compared to the
air strikes, sonic booms and constant shelling from land
and sea by the Israeli army, which is in possession of
the most modern military weapons and planes.
The
message which is being given by the European Union is,
for this reason, greatly disturbing. By allowing the
Government of Israel to dictate its demands and reject
international law, and by the boycott of the European
Union of the democratically elected Palestinian
Government and, therefore, the Palestinian people, there
is a severe imbalance in EU policy. Because of Israel’s continuing occupation and
its destruction of Palestinian society, Palestinians
have become increasingly dependent on aid from
outside. It is humiliating for them to be forced to
accept charity when, if allowed to finally have their
free, viable and independent State, they would in most
probability be able to provide for themselves.
We request
that the European Union
a) begin
discussions with the Palestinian Government
b) resume
economic aid to the Palestinians
c) disassociate itself from Israel's use of starvation as a
political weapon
d) demand
that
Israel deliver the monies that belong
to the Palestinians as well as to the Palestinian
Authority
e)
disassociate itself from the unilateral demands placed
on the Palestinians while working for unconditional
negotiations with the aim of finding a solution which
fulfills the national and humanitarian interests of both
parties
f) end the blockade of the EU on the
democratically elected Government of Palestine.
The
European Jews for a Just Peace request that our
reservations and concerns with regard to recent
decisions taken by the European Union be taken into
account. Only complete objectivity and justice in
dealing with the two parties involved will lead
to a lasting peace in the region, which is certainly the
aspiration and in the best interests of all, Israelis
and Palestinians alike.
Dror
Feiler
Chairman
Executive
Committee, EJJP
--------------------------
Gruß,
Anka