Israeli military operation on Gaza ''Protective Edge''/Letter to mrs Ashton, EU Chief Foreign Affairs
ISRAELI MILITARY OPERATION ON GAZA ’’PROTECTIVE EDGE’’/
LETTER TO MRS ASHTON, EU CHIEF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SEE ALSO
TO MRS C ASHTON
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY
EU RELATION WITH ISRAEL IN THE LIGHT OF THE ISRAELI
ATTACK ON GAZA ’’PROTECTIVE EDGE’’
’’The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom,
democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including
the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values
are common to the Member States of a society in which pluralism,
tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men
prevail’’
Article 2, Lisbon Treaty
’’The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have
inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider
world : democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.’’
Article 21, Lisbon Treaty
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:FULL&from=EN
Dear Mrs Ashton,
At the moment I am writing to you, at least 1437 Palestinians,
in Gaza have been killed, since Israel started its military
operation ’’Protective Edge’’. [1]
Among those killed were 342 children.
According to sources in Gaza’s Ministry of health, 80
per cent are civilians. I fear this number will have
increased at the moment you read this letter.
The last horror I learnt was the Israeli attack on a UN School,
killing 15 and wounding 125. [2]
On Israeli side, there were three civilian victims, two Israeli and a
Thai worker.
No less deplorable, but, like the conflict, assymetric.
Those killings, with the high civilian toll, are not only horrible,
but stem chiefly from Israeli indiscriminate attacks and
extrajudicial killings [3], which are serious breaches of
International Humanitarian Law, failing to make
a clear distinction between combatants and non combatants.[4]
This operation ’’Protective Edge’,’ is presented as a reaction to unlawful
Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel [5], but that’s
no excuse whatsoever. Under all circumstances,
Israeli army has to obey the rules of International Humanitarian Law,
protecting civilians at all cost.
Besides, as the occupying power, Israel has the obligation
to protect Palestinian civilians, not killing and wounding them, destroying their
homes, schools and hospitals [6], ruining their civilian infrastructure [7], and thus shattering all
hopes on a safe, free and dignified life.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EU
It’s fully clear, that this murderous Israeli army must be stopped,
which had to take place long before so many Palestinian civilians
died, were wounded, robbed of their families, homes and hopes.
The EU has made a clear statement on the need of an immediate
ceasefire in the Gaza strip. [8]
I welcome that, but it’s not enough.
The EU has the power to put pressure on Israel to withdraw its army
immediately from the Gaza strip, end the unlawful blockade, which
strangles the Palestinian population [9] and to open the frontiers.
That can be realized by treathen to freeze all diplomatic ties as long the military
killing in Gaza continues.
Take the South American countries Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and
El Salvador as an example, which have recalled their ambasadors
to protest the Israeli attack on Gaza. [10]
THE CRUX OF THE CONFLICT/THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION
AND THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION OF THE EU
But that’s not all.
The EU has done anything in its power to cooperate
in the peacetalks between Israel and the Palestinians
[The Quartet] [11].
But the time of talking is over.
Because of the Israeli systematic murderous
military operations in the Gaza strip [12], serious
human rights violations in the Westbank [13], as
Israeli continuous frustration of peace talks by
expanding the illegal settlements in the occupied Westbank and
Eastern Jerusalem.
Now the EU must show Israel it’s business and the best way is
to urge Israel not only to withdraw from Gaza, but follow
the way home to end the illegal occupation, dismantle
all illegal settlements and dismantle the illegal Wall. [14]
If Israel is not willing, EU should take economical sanctions
or end the Association Agreement with Israel.
This is not only following the Palestinian right on self
determination, but the best way to create real peace
for Palestinians and Israeli.
EPILOGUE
The Treaty of Lisbon learns us, that the EU has committed herself
to human rights and freedoms on the international scene. [15]
One of the most important human rights is the right on
freedom and humanity.
Both rights are denied the Palestinian people for so long.
Mrs Ashton, now is the time, that the EU can prove, that it’s
really committed to human rights by defending the true
rights of the Palestinians.
You can walk away and bury yourself in statements
about ’’ceasement of fire’’ and ’’peace talks’’, but
you know you are wrong.
Prove, that the Lisbon Treaty is not just paper,
but a flowing river of human rights.
If you don’t, you and the EU as institution will
be politically and morally responsible for Israel’s war crimes.
By standing by and doing nothing but talk.
I say to you and the EU
No more words, but deeds !
Time of talking is over.
Thank you for reading this letter.
Yours sincerely
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
[1]
ALAKHBAR/ENGLISH
THE VICTIMS OF GAZA : A LIST OF PALESTINIANS KILLED
IN ISRAEL’S ONGOING ASSAULT
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/victims-gaza-list-palestinians-killed-israels-ongoing-assault
[2]
THE INDEPENDENT
ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT : AT LEAST 15 KILLED IN SHELL
ATTACK ON UN SCHOOL DURING SECOND NIGHT OF BOMBARDMENT
30 JULY 2014
[3]
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
USA : STOP ARMS TRANSFERS TO ISRAEL AMID
GROWING EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES IN GAZA
31 JULY 2014
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL/GAZA
PREVENT FURTHER WAR CRIMES AFTER ISRAELI
GROUND ASSAULT
18 JULY 2014
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
GAZA : AIRSTRIKE DEATHS RAISE CONCERNS ON GROUND OFFENSIVE
22 JULY 2014
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/22/gaza-airstrike-deaths-raise-concerns-ground-offensive
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
ISRAEL/PALESTINE
UNLAWFUL ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES KILL CIVILIANS
16 JULY 2014
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/15/israelpalestine-unlawful-israeli-airstrikes-kill-civilians
[4]
BASIC RULES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
IN ARMED CONFLICTS
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/basic-rules-ihl-311288.htm
[5]
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
PALESTINE/ISRAEL
INDISCRIMINATE PALESTINIAN ROCKET ATTACKS
9 JULY 2014
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/09/palestineisrael-indiscriminate-palestinian-rocket-attacks
[6]
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL/GAZA
PREVENT FURTHER WAR CRIMES AFTER ISRAELI
GROUND ASSAULT
18 JULY 2014
THE INDEPENDENT
ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT : AT LEAST 15 KILLED IN SHELL
ATTACK ON UN SCHOOL DURING SECOND NIGHT OF BOMBARDMENT
30 JULY 2014
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL/GAZA
ATTACKS ON MEDICAL FACILITIES AND CIVILIANS
ADD TO WAR CRIME ALLEGATIONS
21 JULY 2014
THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
NO WONDER GAZANS ARE ANGRY. THE RED CROSS CAN’T PROTECT
THEM
25 JULY 2014
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/article/editorial/07-24-gaza-israel-palestine-maio.htm
[7]
BTSELEM.ORG
PRESS RELEASE :
JOINT LETTER TO DEFENSE MINISTER :
GAZA STRIP CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS
COLLAPSING
23 JULY 2014
http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20140723_gaza_civilian_infrastructure_collapsing
MAIL ONLINE
AT LEAST 100 PALESTINIANS DIE IN ONE DAY AS ISRAELI
TANKS DESTROY GAZA’S ONLY POWER PLANT AND TEN MEMBERS
OF ONE FAMILY ARE KILLED
29 JULY 2014
[8]
STATEMENT ON THE NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE
IN THE GAZA STRIP
25 JULY 2014
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140725_03_en.pdf
[9]
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL/OPT
GAZA POWER CRISIS HAS COMPOUNDED
BLOCAKDE’S ASSAULT ON HUMAN DIGNITY
1 DECEMBER 2013
[10]
THE HAARETZ
EL SALVADOR BECOMES FIFTH LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY
TO RECALL ISRAEL ENVOY
29 JULY 2014
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.607915
[11]
WIKIPEDIA
THE QUARTET ON THE MIDDLE EAST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartet_on_the_Middle_East
[12]
AMMESTY INTERNATIONAL
ISRAEL/GAZA
OPERATION ’’CAST LEAD’’
22 DAYS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
JULY 2009
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
ISRAEL : GAZA AIRSTRIKES VIOLATED LAWS OF WAR
12 FEBRUARY 2013
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/12/israel-gaza-airstrikes-violated-laws-war
[13]
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
ISRAEL : SERIOUS VIOLATIONS IN WESTBANK OPERATIONS
3 JULY 2014
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/03/israel-serious-violations-west-bank-operations
[14]
BTSELEM.ORG
LAND EXPROPRIATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL LAW
http://www.btselem.org/settlements/international_law
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE INSTRUCTION
OF A WALL IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
9 JULY 2004
http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?pr=71&code=mwp&p1=3&p2=4&p3=6&ca
[15]
’’The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have
inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider
world : democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.’’
Article 21, Lisbon Treaty
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:FULL&from=EN