New European Union directive prohibits involvement in illegal Israeli settlements

Source : IMEC

On June 30, 2013, the European Union issued a directive forbidding its 28 member countries from funding or participating in projects that are located within the territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. The new directive, however, does not apply to trade between the EU and Israel, so businesses operating in the illegal settlements would not be affected.

The EU recognizes that Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank are illegal. (Image from Wikimedia Commons)

The legally binding directive will come into effect in 2014, and it forbids EU member states from issuing grants, scholarships, funding, and prizes to Israeli non-governmental and governmental organizations operating beyond Israel’s 1967 borders. The directive requires that any agreements or contracts between an EU country and an Israeli organization include a clause stating that the project or institution is not located on occupied land in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, or the Golan. The European Union recognizes that Israeli settlements on occupied land are illegal according to international law.

A statement issued by the EU explained that, “the purpose of these guidelines is to make a distinction between the state of Israel and the occupied territories when it comes to EU support." The Israeli government will have to stipulate in future agreements with the EU that the settlements in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan are not a part of the State of Israel. Haaretz quoted an Israeli official as saying that the new EU guidelines are an “earthquake”, and Ze’ev Elkin, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, described the EU directive as a "big mistake.” Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi embraced the EU’s decision, saying that “[this] is the beginning of new era. Israel should listen carefully and should understand that this occupation cannot continue without any kind of accountability."

Scrapped Syrian Arms Ban May Draw Terrorism to EU - Iran

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, May 28 (RIA Novosti) – The European Union’s failure on Monday to extend the arms embargo on Syria has brought the threat of terrorism from Syria to the borders of the EU, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi.

“It is a dangerous move as it brought Syrian terrorists several thousand kilometers closer to EU soil,” Araghchi was quoted by IRNA as saying, adding that lifting the embargo would increase the risk of terrorism against EU countries.

The diplomat said the EU’s move demonstrated double standards in the approach of European politicians to the issue of terrorism and was “a destructive move on the eve of the ‘Geneva 2’ conference on Syria.”

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton confirmed on Monday that from now on, every EU member country has the right to make its own decision on arms exports to Syria, meaning EU countries could now supply the Syrian opposition with weapons.

She affirmed that any arms sent to Syria would be "intended for the protection of civilians," and added that the European Union governments would review the position on sanctions on Syria before August 1.

The EU’s failure to renew the embargo on Monday has also been criticized by Moscow, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov calling it “a direct blow to the international conference on Syria.”

In early May, Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced plans to organize an international conference aimed at facilitating a solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis through political dialogue. The conference is designed to be a follow-up to last year’s international meeting in Geneva that drafted a peace roadmap for Syria, where more than 80,000 people have died since fighting broke out between government forces and rebels in March 2011. According to diplomatic sources, the conference may take place in mid-June, but both Moscow and Washington have so far avoided giving exact dates.

EU calls on Israel to respect Palestinian prisoners' rights

Source :   Al Akhbar English

European Union on Saturday called on Israel to respect its human rights obligations towards Palestinian prisoners, saying it was concerned about the condition of four detainees on a long-term hunger strike.

The European Union is "following with concern" the worsening health conditions of Samer Issawi, Jafar Ezzedine, Ayman Sharawneh and Tareq Qaadan, who are all staging long-term hunger strikes, the bloc's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

"The EU calls on the government of Israel to allow for the immediate restoration of their family visiting rights and calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations towards all Palestinian detainees and prisoners," she said.

Palestinian prisoner affairs minister Issa Qaraqe said in a statement on Saturday that Israel was responsible for the prisoners' well-being.

Qaraqe said that president Mahmud Abbas was holding intense talks with world leaders to prevent a possible "disaster."

"The Palestinian people will not stand by in face of what is happening in the prisons," Qaraqe warned.

The comments came a day after clashes erupted in the occupied West Bank as thousands of Palestinian demonstrators staged protests in support of the four.

Thousands of Palestinians prisoners went on hunger strikes in the past year to denounce Israel’s policy of administrative detention and poor life conditions in prisons. Issawi has been on a hunger strike for more than 205 days, sparking grave concerns about his health.

According to prisoners rights group Addameer, 4,743 Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons as of January, including 178 in administrative detention.

(AFP, Al-Akhbar)

Catherine Ashton hoped Iran would show some "flexibility" at upcoming talks in Kazakhstan

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb/

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday said she hoped Iran would show some "flexibility" at upcoming talks with world powers on its nuclear program in Kazakhstan.

Iran and the so-called P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- are due to resume discussions in Almaty on February 26, after a months-long break and failed meetings in Istanbul, Baghdad and Moscow.

"We remain determined to work towards a solution to the Iran nuclea issue based on the dual-track approach," combining sanctions and dialogue, Ashton, who is leading the negotiations for the P5+1 group, told the Security Council.

"There is no doubt that the pressure of sanctions has been instrumental i bringing Iran back to the negotiating table but sanctions cannot be an end in themselves," she claimed.

"The key is for Iran to comply fully with its international obligations."

Britain said last week that world powers would make an "updated and credible" offer to Iran at the Almaty talks.

Report: EU developing 2013 Mideast peace plan

Source :  Maan News Agency

TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- The European Union is developing a proposal to restart peace talks between Israel and Palestine that it will put forward in March, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

The plan will set out the principles of a future peace accord, and a timetable for negotiating all the key issues during 2013, Israeli diplomatic sources told newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

It has been championed by British and French foreign ministers, is supported by Germany, and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is trying to get the rest of the union on board.

According to the report, the plan poses a regional Middle Eastern committee to oversee the process, and Palestinian officials have already said they will join the body.

"The Europeans can't force Israel to enter into an agreement, but they can certainly put us in an awkward position," a senior Israeli official told the newspaper.

"They are drafting a document which will present the principles of the future peace accord, putting it on the table as a challenge," the official said.

"It is likely the Palestinians will accept it and that Israel will have some difficulty. It will drive us into the corner."