Presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European AffairsCommittee on European Affairs

bybyMarie Crawley – David Morrison – Philip O’ConnorMarie Crawley – David Morrison – Philip O’Connor

((Ireland Palestine Solidarity CampaignIreland Palestine Solidarity Campaign))

on 21on 21stst May 2009 May 2009

‘‘Supporting the national and democratic rights of the Supporting the national and democratic rights of the

Palestinian people’Palestinian people’

A nation under occupationA nation under occupation …. ….

Palestinian Loss of Land 1946 - 2008 Palestinian Loss of Land 1946 - 2008

……. colonisation and expropriation. colonisation and expropriation

Europe’s relations with IsraelEurope’s relations with Israel

Barcelona Declaration (1995)Barcelona Declaration (1995)

Israel signs Euro-Mediterranean Partnership 1995 Israel signs Euro-Mediterranean Partnership 1995 despite even then being in breach of key clauses:despite even then being in breach of key clauses:

– ““respect the territorial integrity and unity of each of the respect the territorial integrity and unity of each of the other partners”other partners” (West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Sysria); (West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Sysria);

– ““act in accordance with the UN Charter , the Universal act in accordance with the UN Charter , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and… international law”Declaration of Human Rights and… international law” (Israel in occupation of neighbouring states, ignores (Israel in occupation of neighbouring states, ignores International Court of Justice ruling on “security wall”);International Court of Justice ruling on “security wall”);

– ““act in accordance with the Universal Declaration of act in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”,Human Rights”, Article 7: everyone is Article 7: everyone is “entitled to equal “entitled to equal protection against any discrimination”protection against any discrimination” (Israel (Israel discriminates against its Arab minority – EU 2004).discriminates against its Arab minority – EU 2004).

Israeli breaches Israeli breaches of the UN Charterof the UN Charter

UN Charter (Art. 25) requires UN member UN Charter (Art. 25) requires UN member states states “to accept and carry out the decisions “to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council”of the Security Council” - in 1995 Israel in - in 1995 Israel in breach of 25 Security Council Resolutions:breach of 25 Security Council Resolutions:• cease building “settlements” in occupied cease building “settlements” in occupied

territories, including East Jerusalem (territories, including East Jerusalem (Resolutions Resolutions 446, 452 and 465);446, 452 and 465);

• reverse the annexation of East Jerusalem reverse the annexation of East Jerusalem (resolutions (resolutions 252, 267, 271, 298, 476 and 478) 252, 267, 271, 298, 476 and 478) and and the Golan Heights (Resolution 497)the Golan Heights (Resolution 497)

• open its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspection open its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspection (Resolution 487).(Resolution 487).

Example: Example: SettlementsSettlements

The Israeli The Israeli ““settlementsettlement”” Har Homa (formerly Abu Har Homa (formerly Abu Ghneim), East JerusalemGhneim), East Jerusalem. 500,000 now live in such . 500,000 now live in such

fortified colonies on stolen Palestinian land in breacgh fortified colonies on stolen Palestinian land in breacgh of International Lawof International Law

Example: Example: The WallThe Wall

Court of International Justice (July 2004) declares the Court of International Justice (July 2004) declares the construction of the wall contrary to international law and construction of the wall contrary to international law and

orders Israel to cease construction and dismantle the existing orders Israel to cease construction and dismantle the existing structurestructure

Euro-Med Agreement (2000)Euro-Med Agreement (2000)

Israel has enjoyed privileged access to the EU Israel has enjoyed privileged access to the EU since 2000 through its Association Agreement since 2000 through its Association Agreement with the EU with the EU underunder the Euro-Mediterranean the Euro-Mediterranean PartnershipPartnership;;

Article 2 of the Agreement imposes human Article 2 of the Agreement imposes human rights obligations on Israel:rights obligations on Israel: – ““Relations between the Parties, as well as all the Relations between the Parties, as well as all the

provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.”constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.”

CCompliance by Israel is an essential element of ompliance by Israel is an essential element of the Agreement – not an optional element, nor a the Agreement – not an optional element, nor a desirable element, but an essential element.desirable element, but an essential element.

Israeli breaches of the Israeli breaches of the EU Association AgrementEU Association Agrement

• Israel discriminates against its Arab minority: Israel discriminates against its Arab minority: Ehud Olmert: the discrimination is Ehud Olmert: the discrimination is “deliberate”“deliberate” and and “the gap is insufferable”“the gap is insufferable”;;

• The economic The economic strangulation of Gaza, closing the strangulation of Gaza, closing the crossings between Israel and Gazacrossings between Israel and Gaza, , is in breach is in breach of of international humanitarian law (international humanitarian law (Articles 33 Articles 33 and 55and 55,, 4th4th Geneva Convention Geneva Convention):):

• ““To the fullest extent of the means available to To the fullest extent of the means available to itit,, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in necessary it should, in particular, bring in necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.”inadequate.”

Economic strangulation of Economic strangulation of Gaza Gaza “collective punishment”“collective punishment”

• Economic blockade a Economic blockade a deliberate act of Israeli deliberate act of Israeli policypolicy,, inin breach of Art 33 breach of Art 33,, 4th4th Geneva Geneva Convention, which forbids Occupying PowerConvention, which forbids Occupying Powerss from applying from applying “collective penalties”“collective penalties” to to occuppiedoccuppied people. people.

• Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern, Foreign Minister, Dermot Ahern, toto D Dááil Eireann: il Eireann: ““…… It is unacceptable that Israel should isolate It is unacceptable that Israel should isolate

the people of Gaza and cut off essential supplies the people of Gaza and cut off essential supplies in order to exert pressure on them to reject in order to exert pressure on them to reject Hamas. I agree with the United Nations that this Hamas. I agree with the United Nations that this constitutes collective punishment and is illegal constitutes collective punishment and is illegal under international humanitarian law…” under international humanitarian law…”

• With the Gaza blokade alone, With the Gaza blokade alone, Israel is in breach Israel is in breach of Article 2 of the Euro-Med Agreemenof Article 2 of the Euro-Med Agreement.t.

War crimes in Gaza: War crimes in Gaza: awaiting EU response awaiting EU response

Israeli’sIsraeli’s military military onslaughtonslaught on Gaza on Gaza killed 1,400 Palestinians, killed 1,400 Palestinians, including over including over 500 women and children. Inquiries by 500 women and children. Inquiries by UN bodies and human rights NGOs find UN bodies and human rights NGOs find extensive evidence of war crimes: extensive evidence of war crimes: “ “there are strong and credible reports of there are strong and credible reports of

war crimes and other violations of war crimes and other violations of international norms”international norms” (UN Human Rights (UN Human Rights Council report 23Council report 23rdrd March 2009) March 2009)

..

The EU has The EU has turned a blind turned a blind eye to all of eye to all of these failures these failures by Israel to by Israel to fulfill its fulfill its obligations obligations under the under the Barcelona Barcelona Declaration and Declaration and the Euro-Med the Euro-Med AgreementAgreement

EU double standards:EU double standards:Israel and RussiaIsrael and Russia

Last September, the EU postponed negotiations Last September, the EU postponed negotiations with Russia about a new partnership agreement with Russia about a new partnership agreement until Russia ended its military occupation of until Russia ended its military occupation of Georgia, which at the time had lasted a month;Georgia, which at the time had lasted a month;

Had the EU applied this condition to Israel in Had the EU applied this condition to Israel in 1995, the EU would have refused to enter into 1995, the EU would have refused to enter into negotiations with Israel about a special negotiations with Israel about a special partnership until it ended its military occupation partnership until it ended its military occupation of Lebanon, Syria and the Occupied Palestinian of Lebanon, Syria and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.Territories.

If the EU were to apply this condition to Israel If the EU were to apply this condition to Israel today, it would cancel all agreements with Israel today, it would cancel all agreements with Israel until it withdrew to its 1967 boundaries. until it withdrew to its 1967 boundaries.

Gaza and the Gaza and the Hamas ceasefireHamas ceasefire

June 2008 Israel agreed a ceasefire with Hamas: June 2008 Israel agreed a ceasefire with Hamas: Hamas fired no rockets or mortars out of Gaza into Hamas fired no rockets or mortars out of Gaza into Israel from 19 June until 4 Nov. when Israel carried Israel from 19 June until 4 Nov. when Israel carried out a military incursion (leaving 6 dead). This out a military incursion (leaving 6 dead). This ended the ceasefire (though Israel had never ended the ceasefire (though Israel had never fulfilled its undertaking to lift the blockade);fulfilled its undertaking to lift the blockade);

Israel didn’t need to launch a military assault on Israel didn’t need to launch a military assault on Gaza and kill over 1,400 people to protect its Gaza and kill over 1,400 people to protect its citizens from rockets. All it had to do was to stick citizens from rockets. All it had to do was to stick to the terms of the ceasefire. It chose not to do to the terms of the ceasefire. It chose not to do so.so. ..

The ceasefire must now be restored, with Israel The ceasefire must now be restored, with Israel ending its economic blockade, so that the misery ending its economic blockade, so that the misery of Gaza is reduced and its infrastructure rebuiltof Gaza is reduced and its infrastructure rebuilt..

The EU and the “Agreement The EU and the “Agreement on Movement and Access”on Movement and Access”

Agreement on Movement & AccessAgreement on Movement & Access (sponsored by (sponsored by the US and EU in 2005 ): Israel promises that all the US and EU in 2005 ): Israel promises that all Israel-Gaza crossings would Israel-Gaza crossings would “operate “operate continuously”continuously” to allow people and goods move in to allow people and goods move in and out of Gaza. It also promises bus/truck and out of Gaza. It also promises bus/truck convoys between West Bank and Gaza and the convoys between West Bank and Gaza and the opening of a seaport and airport in Gaza. opening of a seaport and airport in Gaza. Israel Israel broke all these promises;broke all these promises;

The EU is forever demanding that Palestinians The EU is forever demanding that Palestinians adhere by past agreements. It is long past time adhere by past agreements. It is long past time for the EU to insist that Israel adheres to this one.for the EU to insist that Israel adheres to this one.

The ceasefire must now be restored, with Israel The ceasefire must now be restored, with Israel ending its economic blockade, so that the misery ending its economic blockade, so that the misery of Gaza is reduced and its infrastructure rebuiltof Gaza is reduced and its infrastructure rebuilt..

Hamas, the EU and a Hamas, the EU and a “peaceful solution”“peaceful solution”

Hamas represents a large proportion of Hamas represents a large proportion of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, achieved through free elections (74 of 132 achieved through free elections (74 of 132 seats in PLC). Hamas must be engaged with as seats in PLC). Hamas must be engaged with as part of the solution - without preconditions part of the solution - without preconditions that make engagement impossible;that make engagement impossible;

Both the Fatah and Hamas leaderships have stated Both the Fatah and Hamas leaderships have stated repeatedly that they are prepared to work a solution on repeatedly that they are prepared to work a solution on the basis of the 1967 borders accepted by the UN. Their the basis of the 1967 borders accepted by the UN. Their only condition is that the occupation end.only condition is that the occupation end.

The EU must end its boycott of Hamas and complicity in The EU must end its boycott of Hamas and complicity in the strangulation of Gaza – as urged by the Irish the strangulation of Gaza – as urged by the Irish Government.Government.

What we ask of What we ask of the Irish Governmentthe Irish Government

demand publicly that the Euro-Med Agreement under demand publicly that the Euro-Med Agreement under which Israel has privileged access to the EU market which Israel has privileged access to the EU market be suspended until Israel complies with International be suspended until Israel complies with International Law;Law;

veto any proposed upgrade in EU relations with veto any proposed upgrade in EU relations with Israel until Israel complies with International Law;Israel until Israel complies with International Law;

demand publicly that Israel reverse its settlement demand publicly that Israel reverse its settlement construction, illegal occupation and annexation of construction, illegal occupation and annexation of land in accordance with UN Security Council land in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, and use its influence in international resolutions, and use its influence in international forums to bring this about;forums to bring this about;

demand that the EU re-engage with Hamas. demand that the EU re-engage with Hamas.

Why should the Why should the Irish Government act?Irish Government act?

Support of the Irish peopleSupport of the Irish people EU foreign policy will be a factor in Lisbon EU foreign policy will be a factor in Lisbon

II – by acting on these recommendations, II – by acting on these recommendations, Ireland would demonstrate it is willing to Ireland would demonstrate it is willing to exercise an independent foreign policyexercise an independent foreign policy

Israel will continue to act with impunity – Israel will continue to act with impunity – risk repeat of ‘Gaza’ risk repeat of ‘Gaza’

Because of similarities in history – Because of similarities in history – Palestine looks to Ireland for leadership in Palestine looks to Ireland for leadership in EU context EU context

Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

www.ipsc.iewww.ipsc.ie