European Parliament member Manon Aubry launched an urgent appeal for decisive legal and political action aimed at canceling the partnership agreement between the European Union and Israel. This call came against the backdrop of what she described as ongoing crimes committed by the occupation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, emphasizing the necessity of stopping the privileges granted to Tel Aviv.
Aubry, who heads the Left group in the European Parliament, affirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completely undermined the pillars of international law. In statements to media sources, she indicated that the continued operation of trade agreements in light of these violations constitutes implicit acceptance of the occupation policies practiced by Israel against Palestinians.
The French parliamentarian revealed that the popular petition demanding the suspension of the agreement has exceeded one million signatures, which represents unprecedented political pressure within the old continent. She explained that these signatures were collected within just three months, reflecting the extent of European public anger towards Israeli practices in the occupied territories.
These moves coincide with a joint statement signed by nearly 350 former European ministers and officials, who called for a review of relations with Israel before the meeting of EU foreign ministers. The officials affirmed in their statement that Israel continues its policies of expansion and occupation in Gaza and the West Bank, which necessitates a firm European response commensurate with the scale of the violations.
The controversial partnership agreement dates back to 1995, when it was signed in Brussels to provide a legal and institutional framework for economic cooperation and political dialogue. The agreement, which came into force in 2000, aims to integrate the Israeli economy into the European market, which Aubry now sees as a pressure tool that must be activated.
Aubry explained that the 'European Citizens' initiative is now seeking to reach 1.5 million signatures to secure a legal safety margin and ensure that no voices are excluded during the verification process. She affirmed that reaching this number will compel the European Commission to provide an official response and declare a clear political stance towards the crimes committed in Gaza.
The initiative is considered a legal mechanism that allows EU citizens to directly influence decision-making, as the system adopted since 2012 obliges the Commission to study any request that receives one million signatures. Although the initiative does not impose immediate legislation, it places European institutions before their ethical and legal responsibilities towards public opinion.
Aubry stressed that time is a crucial factor, saying that 'we do not have a minute to lose' given the deteriorating tragic situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. She considered that the European Union, as Israel's largest trading partner, has the ability to exert effective influence if it decides to use the weapon of economic sanctions.
The partnership agreement has faced sharp criticism since the start of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, as observers believe that granting trade privileges to a state accused of violating international law contradicts the principles of the Union. Previous reviews by the European Commission concluded that there was evidence of serious Israeli violations of international humanitarian law.
In a related context, official statistics indicate the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where more than 72,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been martyred due to continuous bombing. The war has also caused massive destruction to infrastructure, making the sector an uninhabitable area under the imposed siege and lack of basic supplies.
The escalation is not limited to the Gaza Strip but extends to the West Bank, which witnesses increasing attacks by settlers and occupation forces daily. According to Palestinian data, more than 1,148 martyrs have fallen in the West Bank since October 2023, in addition to thousands of injured and detainees who have filled Israeli prisons.
Human rights activists believe that the success of this popular initiative will represent a turning point in European foreign policy towards the Palestinian issue. The demand to suspend the agreement is no longer limited to political elites but has turned into a broad societal movement that includes various age groups and political orientations in EU countries.
Official procedures are scheduled to begin within the European Parliament as soon as the required quorum of signatures is completed and their validity is verified from at least seven member states. The European Commission will then have to provide a detailed response within six months, clarifying its position on the continuation of economic partnership with a state facing accusations of genocide.
In conclusion, Aubry affirms that popular pressure is the only way to force European leaders to change their biased or silent course towards what is happening in Palestine. The parliamentary bloc supporting the initiative hopes that this step will lead to Israel's economic isolation and push it to stop its comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people.
Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have completely destroyed international law, and what is required today is to re-establish it and save what can be saved.
شارك برأيك
European parliamentary movement to suspend partnership agreement with Israel after exceeding one million signatures