ei: European NGOs defy EU secrecy on Jerusalem

European organisations today defied the refusal of EU Ministers to publish a report compiled by their own diplomats regarding Israeli violations of international law with regard to East Jerusalem. Over 30 Jewish, Palestinian, peace and anti-poverty groups from around Europe will publish the suppressed Report on their websites.

The report, which states that "Israel's activities in Jerusalem are in violation of both its Roadmap obligations and international law" was shelved by EU foreign ministers at their 12 December Foreign Affairs (GAERC) meeting in Brussels, for fear of alienating Israel and reducing the EU's influence.

Yet, protesting groups point out, only one day after the report's suppression, Israel announced the building of 300 new homes in the Maale Adumim settlement, the largest in the occupied territories, in violation of the Road Map and international law.

Pierre Galand, Senator in the Belgian Parliament and Chair of the European Co-ordinating Committee on Palestine (ECCP) said: "European diplomats had the courage to stress the alarming situation in East Jerusalem. In order to force the EU member states to respect their own commitment to International Law and Human Rights, we will publish the report on East Jerusalem on our websites, despite the EU refusal to do so."

Dan Judelson, Secretary of European Jews for a Just Peace said "The EU are burying their heads in the sand and are thus co-responsible while East Jerusalem residents face repeated violations of international law and of simple standards of humanity, all at the hands of the Israeli state. If the EU sits on this report, we see it as our duty to make it as widely available as we can."

Nick Dearden, Senior Campaigns Officer at War on Want said: "The desperation of Palestinians across the West Bank now threatens those who live in East Jerusalem, as Israel inflames and intensifies its Occupation. By suppressing the truth, which their own diplomats have made clear to them, European governments have sent a clear message to Israel that its aggression will be met only with silence."

More Information

Pierre Galand, Tel. + 32 2 223 07 56, Email: eccp@skynet.be, Chairman, European Co-ordinating Committee of NGOs on the question of Palestine; Dan Judelson, + 44 (0) 779 339 2820, Secretary, European Jews for a Just Peace; Nick Dearden, War on Want, Tel. +44 (0) 7932 335464.

This statement is supported by: Alternative Information Centre, Bethlehem & Jerusalem; Arab Media Watch, UK; Association Belgo-Palestinienne; AIPPP Strasbourg; BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Bethlehem; Civimed Initiatives, Strasbourg; Collectif judeo-arabe et citoyen pour la paix, Strasbourg; Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Luxembourg; Coordination de l'Appel de Strasbourg; Een Ander Joods Geluid, Netherlands; Farrah France; Friends of Sabeel-UK; Humanistic Peace Council, Netherlands; ISM London; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Israel; Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-UK; Jews for Israeli Palestinian Peace, Sweden; Jews for Justice for Palestinians, UK; Judische Stimme fuer gerechten Frieden in Nahost, Berlin; Just Peace UK; Netherlands Palestine Committee; Network of Jews against the Occupation, Italy; NUS Black Students' Campaign, UK; Palestine Forum in Britain; Palestine Solidarity Campaign, UK; Society for Austrian Arab Relations, Austria; Stop the Occupation, Netherlands; Union Juive Francaise pour la Paix; Union des Progresssite Juifs de Belgiques; War on Want, UK; and Women in Black, The Netherlands.

Related Links

Leaked EU report on East Jerusalem (24 November 2005)

Solana exposes European bias towards Israel once again, Arjan El Fassed (18 December 2005)

Letter: EU's Solana pushes cover-up of Jerusalem report, Ali Abunimah (13 December 2005)

EU diplomats slam Israel’s policies in occupied Jerusalem, Arjan El Fassed (25 November 2005)