Agnes Caramado, executive director of Amnesty International, said that the failure to suspend a cooperation agreement with the Israeli regime was a “cruel and illegal betrayal” of the Palestinian state, according to Amnesty International’s official website.
“The EU’s refusal to suspend the agreement with Israel is a cruel and illegal betrayal of European projects and visions, and is based on support for international law and the battle against the European Union’s own rules, authoritarian practices of Palestinian human rights.”
She further pointed to the coalition’s conspiracy in Israeli crimes against Palestinians, saying, “The EU’s own review revealed that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the terms of the Association Agreement. However, in order to stop it and prevent its own accomplice, Member States chose to respect its international obligations and maintain its life-saving.”
On Tuesday, the European Union’s foreign minister met in Brussels, suspending cooperation with the government and imposing sanctions. However, proposed measures including suspension of trade agreements, arms embargo or restrictions on issuing visas have been rejected.
The Director-General also said, “The European leaders had the opportunity to take a principled stand on Israeli crime, but instead gave them a green light to continue their genocide in Gaza.
The European Union’s cooperation agreement with the Israeli regime has been in effect since 2000. This agreement forms a major framework for political, economic and cultural cooperation on both sides.
It is worth mentioning that despite the union’s recent decision to continue cooperation with the Israeli regime, several European states, including Ireland, Spain, Belgium and Slovenia, have been seeking a suspension or immediate review of this agreement over the past few months.
rhm/