Brussels: In an open letter to the Danish E.U. Presidency, Amnesty International calls on the EU to go beyond the ritual voicing of concern and take concrete steps to implement the human rights provisions of the Association Agreement with Israel.
E.U. leaders will meet with their Israeli counterparts at the E.U.-Israel Association Council in Brussels on Monday (21 October) on the sidelines of the E.U. Foreign Ministers meeting.
"The E.U. should lay down concrete and measurable benchmarks for action to be taken by Israel within a clearly defined time frame and to be evaluated before any decision on other measures is taken in the framework of the Association Agreement," urged Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International's E.U. Office.
Amnesty International believes one of the most important steps would be the sending of international human rights monitors to Israel and the Occupied Territories, a measure previously encouraged by the E.U. but opposed by the Israeli government. This move could save Israeli and Palestinian lives and should again be one of the concrete demands of the E.U. at this Association Council meeting.
"Unless the EU takes the necessary measures to ensure compliance by Israel with its obligations under the Association Agreement, the credibility of the E.U.'s human rights commitment in the region will be further damaged," said Dick Oosting.
E.U. leaders will meet with their Israeli counterparts at the E.U.-Israel Association Council in Brussels on Monday (21 October) on the sidelines of the E.U. Foreign Ministers meeting.
"The E.U. should lay down concrete and measurable benchmarks for action to be taken by Israel within a clearly defined time frame and to be evaluated before any decision on other measures is taken in the framework of the Association Agreement," urged Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International's E.U. Office.
Amnesty International believes one of the most important steps would be the sending of international human rights monitors to Israel and the Occupied Territories, a measure previously encouraged by the E.U. but opposed by the Israeli government. This move could save Israeli and Palestinian lives and should again be one of the concrete demands of the E.U. at this Association Council meeting.
"Unless the EU takes the necessary measures to ensure compliance by Israel with its obligations under the Association Agreement, the credibility of the E.U.'s human rights commitment in the region will be further damaged," said Dick Oosting.