EU Must Hold Israel Accountable for its Violations, Says Ashrawi

RAMALLAH, January 24, 2011 (WAFA) – PLO Executive Committee Member, Hanan Ashrawi Tuesday said that the European Union must hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and peace, said a press release.

Ashrawi said, in the lead up to European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton’s visit to the region, that “European countries must employ concrete mechanisms that hold Israel accountable for its continued efforts to create ‘facts on the ground’ that violate international law and the requirements of peace.”

“Israel’s hard-line government continues to adopt extreme positions designed to rapidly erode any prospects for peace,” Ashrawi said.

The Israeli measures constitute a deliberate attempt to ensure that the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state becomes unrealistic, “Such measures prove that Israel is responsible for the failure of negotiations,” Ashrawi said.

Ashrawi stressed the need for EU to play a direct and distinctive role in genuine peacemaking.

She said that EU must adopt several policies based on the establishment of an independent, democratic Palestinian state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“EU must adhere to the guidelines articulated in the 2009 statement of the Council of the European Union, support the Palestinian efforts to gain full membership in the United Nations and extend recognition of the Palestinian state and ensuring the Quartet adheres to positions that include recent EU reports and documents.”, she stated

“EU should also work with the PLO to convene a conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the application of international humanitarian law in the Palestinian territory and bring the Israeli government to re-open all PLO institutions in Jerusalem,” she added.Ashrawi said that Israel must compel to evacuate its illegal settlers and settlements from Area C while supporting the local Palestinian population thatdeserves every right to remain on Palestinian land. EU must require European countries to divest from all settlements andprojects that support Israeli settlements, she said
Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA -