Take Action: Ireland must oppose reconvening the EU-Israel Association Council

In July, despite Israel’s record of apartheid, human rights abuses and international law violations, the 27 EU Foreign Ministers voted unanimously to reconvene the EU-Israel Association Council for the first time since 2012.

This is an entirely retrograde move that will serve only to embolden Israel in its denial of Palestinian rights and freedoms. The message it sends is clear; Israel can continue to act with impunity, and the EU – including Ireland – will not only ignore its continuous human rights abuses and violations of international law, but reward it with greater access to the EU centres of power.

Indeed, it has already had this effect – since the announcement was made, Israel has launched yet another assault on the people of Gaza, intensified it’s attacks against Palestinian civil society organisations, intends to impose strict new rules on foreigners in the West Bank and plans to forge ahead new illegal settlements, including the E1 Settlement project (which is supposed to be a red-line issue for the EU).

We think this is unacceptable and are asking our supporters to take a minute to send the below email to the Irish government which calls on them to use their veto to oppose the reconstitution of this Council until Israel abides by international law and dismantles its regime of apartheid and persecution.

Click here to take action!

You can also send a copy of the letter to your local TDs by finding their email addresses on the WhoIsMyTD website.

GDPR Notice: A copy of this email is sent to the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign so we can track campaign numbers, and will be deleted within 12 months.

Your name

Your email

Subject

Your Message
Dear Minister Coveney, It was with great shock and disappointment that I learned that the European Commission intends to revive the EU-Israel Association Council. I view this as an extremely retrograde step in the struggle for Palestinian rights and freedoms – and the Irish government must act to stop it. The message this move sends is that Israel can continue to act with impunity, and the EU will not only ignore its continuous human rights abuses and violations of international law, but reward it with greater access to the EU centres of power. I surely do not need to list the myriad illegal and cruel actions of Israel that should merit international action instead of acceptance, sanctions instead of ever closer embrace – from a brutal military occupation to illegal settlements to war crimes and other atrocities. A raft of human rights organisations and experts including UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, are clear that Israel is guilty of the crime against humanity of Apartheid. But it is clear that Israel sees this as a green light to forge ahead with its human rights abuses and international law violations; since the decision was taken to reconvene the Association Council, Israel has waged another brutal war on Gaza, intensified its attacks on Palestinian civil society organisations, continued plans to expand settlements and intends to impose strict new rules on foreigners in the West Bank. Ireland has a legal duty to act to protect the Palestinian people from violations of international law, and the moral duty to actively support their struggle for freedom. As a first step I believe that Ireland should immediately use its veto at the European Commission to oppose the planned reconvening of the EU-Israel Association Council. More than fifty years of the international community’s “constructive engagement” with Israel has merely led to the worsening of the situation of the Palestinian people. How long will the international community, including Ireland, maintain this charade? And when will saying something is unacceptable mean that something is actually unacceptable? Yours sincerely,

Note: In the event that this form fails to work, you can also email simon.coveney@oir.ie directly

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Posted August 5, 2022 in Action Item, Apartheid, EU, Human Rights, International Law, Press releases, War Crimes.