La red de 50 organizaciones insta al Consejo de Ministros de Asuntos Exteriores de la UE a que exijan el final del bloqueo israelí sobre la Franja de Gaza, causante de la devastadora situación en la que se encuentran su millón y medio de habitantes.

To:
Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European Union
President of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr Karel Schwarzenberg
Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana
Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner

22 January 2009

Dear sir/madam,
In recent weeks European citizens and civil society organisations have shown through massive mobilisations their support for an end to the violence in Gaza and a strengthened EU role in the quest of bringing peace and stability to the region.

SOLIDAR, as a network of 50 civil society organisations from 20 European Union countries, writes to urge you to take immediate and decisive action to bring an end to Israel’s blockade on Gaza which has created a devastating humanitarian crisis for the 1.5 million people trapped there.

Israel’s recent attacks resulting in 1400 Palestinians dead, 5000 wounded and destruction of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and water and sanitation facilities has done irreparable damage to peace prospects for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Furthermore, the attacks on United Nations facilities and humanitarian staff, as well as places of refuge, present a clear breach of international humanitarian and human rights law which may constitute war crimes. The deaths of thirteen Israelis are just a further reminder that violence cannot be solved by violence.

The European Union has an important role to play in safeguarding international law governing war, humanitarian intervention and human rights as well as being a moral compass for other nations. It also must engage politically in ending the blockade and occupation. Whilst we support the willingness of the EU and it member states to donate humanitarian aid to re-build the lives of Palestinian people, we do not think that such aid alone will bring justice and peace to the region, nor should those responsible for the destruction be under the impression that the European Union sanctions such destruction by its willingness to pay for it.

With the purpose of signaling that all countries, and individuals leading those countries, have the responsibility to respect international law and human rights, as well as ensuring that the European Union regains its credibility as an impartial and responsible mediator in the peace process, we call on you to exercise the so-called “soft power” the European Union prides itself on by working to ensure that:

1. The Israeli government grants immediate access to humanitarian aid and materials necessary for reconstruction by opening the border crossings and ending the blockade of Gaza;
2. The Egyptian government commits to the same vis-à-vis the opening of the Rafah crossing;
3. All parties agree to an end to all violence.
4. A full investigation into accusations of possible war crimes committed.

We also ask the European Union to:

1. Suspend the enhancement of political and economic cooperation with Israel under the so-called “upgrade process” until Israel fulfills its legal and humanitarian obligations under international law;
2. Suspend the trade preferences enjoyed by Israel under the current EU-Israel Association Agreement until Chapter 2 of the agreement, specifying human rights commitments, is respected;
3. Assure that all the political efforts are being made to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume negotiations for the establishment of a long-lasting and just peace.

In the interests of ensuring a just and lasting peace the EU must take urgent action to do all that is within its power to address the root causes of the festering Israeli-Palestinian situation and encourage meaningful dialogue between both sides.

Yours sincerely,

Conny Reuter
Secretary General