http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/eu-needs-consistency-in-its-policies-towards-israel-/74262.aspx

European Voice last week published a piece by four MEPs on the EU-Israel trade agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products, ACAA (“Stuck at the border”, 26 April-2 May).

The authors of that piece accuse me, the ex-officio rapporteur for that file, of reflecting my own political position in the draft report that I put forward on 7 March, rather than the views of the majority of the international trade committee (INTA). This is a completely false accusation.

First: when I put forward my draft report (abiding by the agreed calendar) recommending the suspension of the European Parliament’s decision on ACAA for two years, there was no clear majority position in INTA. There still isn’t, for that matter, given that no vote has yet been taken. Also, the discussions so far have shown no clear orientation, but, rather, a deep divide between those in favour of the agreement and those against it. I have not gone against the opinion of the committee – because there isn’t one.

Second: it is also false to say that the draft report reflects my own position, given that I have made no secret of my opposition to the agreement and my intention to vote for its rejection. Therefore, when I proposed to suspend the decision for two years in order to re-examine the issue in (hopefully) different circumstances, I was presenting a compromise position, not my own.

The allegation that rejecting or delaying ratification of the ACAA will affect the availability of affordable Israeli medicines in the European market is groundless. As a matter of fact, these medicines will continue freely to enter the EU. The only beneficiaries of the agreement will be Israel’s (very competitive) pharmaceuticals companies, which would have direct access to the European single market with no need to go through the European conformity assessment and authorisation procedures, because under ACAA these will be performed at home.

My compromise proposal is far from unwarranted. What I defend is that the EU should not awardIsraela significant enhancement of bilateral trade relations given the terrible situation now prevailing in the occupied territories. At least not while the Israeli government continues to ignore defiantly the firm condemnation made by the EU of its policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians. In fact, one of the most important principles of the Treaty of the EU regarding the external action of theUnionis the consistency of its various streams, namely the external trade policy and the foreign and security policy. Ratification of ACAA would be interpreted as condoning the unacceptable situation in the occupied territories – namely, the economic blockade of Gaza, which amounts to a collective punishment of the whole population of the territory; the continuation of the illegal settlements on the occupied territories; the annexation of East Jerusalem; and the breach of fundamental rights of the Palestinians, namely the right to their land, freedom of movement, freedom to work, and, of course, their right to self-determination.

I can understand that the ‘Friends of Israel’ would rather forget the need to ensure such coherence between EU policies. But those who care for the consistency of the EU’s external action (and for the rights of the Palestinians) should not.

Vital Moreira MEP

Brussels

It is hard to think of the right words to say to try and convince you to support the Palestinian call for Boycott since you seem to already know of all the hardships within their lives. Is it because you wish to hide behind clouds of ignorance, of not being political of loving both sides and therefore choosing to cause harm by not speaking out?

I feel in Europe and the US we are allowed too easily to close our eyes from all the horrible things still present these days, and thus our lives risk to become fragile bubbles. But at the same time if you allow yourself to face that misery you can find that thanks to our privileged lives we are able to have impact in so many ways. A true privilege.

This is your chance now.

The UN High commissioner for human rights recently declared Israel to be an apartheid state (report from 09/03/2012) ;  The Committee draws the State party’s attention to its General Recommendation 19 (1995) concerning the prevention, prohibition and eradication of all policies and practices of racial segregation and apartheid.

Recently 2 reports have come out about children being detained by Israel. Being arrested at night, handcuffed and blindfolded. They are interrogated without their parents or a lawyer present. Mostly these children come from villages brave enough to organize non-violent protests against the separation wall, against the land theft and the occupation. This is how they are shown to shut up, to accept a life without options or possibilities. Not like the ones I have enjoyed all my life. I live a life without checkpoints, with freedom to travel, to study and options to work and earn a living, a life where ‘rights’ still mean something.

But children’s rights are trampled in the occupied territories. Of the 7500 children detained in this fashion almost 1000 were 15 years old or less.

With the boycott we try to target a system which is wrong, unjust and corrupt. You have the opportunity to convey this message to your Israeli fans as well. To open their eyes and minds for the obvious, to stand up and speak out against the injustice being done in their name.

Please consider taking sides, not against Israelis but for equality and for freedom for all alike.

Signed: Coordination Boycot Israel Belgium