February 18, 2020
Josep Borrell Fontelles
High Representative and Vice President
European Union
Dear High Representative Borrell,
We are writing to support the strong statement you made on February 4th, criticising Donald Trump’s so-called Peace and Prosperity Plan. We know from press reports that a few countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Italy, refused to agree to the Council of Ministers condemning the plan.
We thank you for showing courage and responsibility by issuing a statement yourself. We note this comment in particular, “We are especially concerned by statements on the prospect of annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the West Bank,… steps towards annexation, if implemented, could not pass unchallenged.” We trust the European Union will be willing make good on that if the need arises.
More widely, we trust that all European Union member states will soon realise that the plan is grossly unjust, obviously designed to satisfy Israeli expansionism and without the slightest regard for Palestinian rights. Rather than leading to peace, it will guarantee continuing conflict and violence.
European member states should look at Israel and the Palestinians through the lens of international law and natural justice, and be willing to act accordingly. It has been patently obvious for many years that no right-wing Israeli government will even contemplate ending the occupation while Israel continues to enjoy the benefits of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and other agreements with the EU as if there were no occupation.
We urge the Council of Ministers to consider suspending the privileges Israel enjoys under these agreements until it ceases acting as if it is above the law.
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Yours sincerely,
Dror Feiler, Chair of EJJP, Judar for Israelisk-Palestinsk Fred (Stockholm)
Arthur Goodman, Diplomatic and Parliamentary Liaison officer,