Adel Samara - Letter to Luisa Morgantini: “You are too greatly terrified!”
By Adel Samara • Jun 16th, 2008 at 8:00 • Category: Analysis, Features, Israel, Newswire, Opinions and Letters, Palestine, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance
To Luisa Morgantini,Vice President of the European Parliament
It was really interesting that you have made the sacrifice of issuing a press release (13th June 2008) before the EU Monday June 16th June in Luxembourg in the margin of the EU general affairs and external relations council, wherein it states that Israel doesn’t respect the agreements: and therefore recommends voting no to the upgrade of relations with EU.
The core of your statement is that you need Israel to show a serious signs of good faith…It is in fact more than strange to expect Israel to do that. During the entire 60 years of the occupation of Palestine, Israel never has shown any signs of respect for any humanitarian demands. As a settler colonial regime Israel is in fact unable to change. This is without reminding you that settler colonialism never changes by being blamed, begged and bribed.
However, the term “EU-Israeli relations” is a vague and biased description for a dangerous, dirty and racist history. This term is a part of the Eurocentric discourse. Europe is the first founder of the Zionist Ashkenazi Regime, (ZAR) in Palestine, i.e., Europe is the first foreign power to have laid foundations to terminate the mere existence of Palestine (land, people, classes, culture, and dreams). Without British, French…etc., imperialist colonialism of the Arab Homeland, this entity would never have existed. That is why the EU-Israeli free trade agreement is not the last sin in the EU’s history against our people.
Despite all of that, your press release stated:
“This is not to punish Israel, but to be coherent with our rules - firstly with the respect of human rights that are fundamental in all association agreements between European Union and third countries. Human rights that continue to be systematically violated by the ongoing Israeli policies towards the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian Territory” added Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, who was also part of the ad hoc delegation.
What the ZAR is doing day and night here is terror, not merely human rights violations! It is really a shame that people in your place, knowledge and experience are terrified that much and do not use the words to say it.
As long as you are terrified that much, you are in fact, although indirectly, proof that the ZAR is a terrorist state. Otherwise, I doubt that you have a personal interest in not speaking straight.
You might find it strange to be challenged in this manner from a Palestinian and Arab. I am sure that you are always welcomed by Palestinian/Arab politicians and intellectuals who fight each other to have a picture taken with you, and who appreciate your press release just as it is.
Considering that you will never go further in your smooth blame to the ZAR, the reason I wrote to you is to explain to you and all readers that those you met are Arabs in name only, not by heart and commitment. That is why; if you want Arabs to talk, don’t spoil your time with them.
Adel Samara, PhD
Occupied Ramallah
Adel Samara is PhD in political economy and development, University of Exeter, England. Writer and Communist Political and Class activist. He has been arrested by Jordan, Israel, and the PA.
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Dear Adel,
I grieve for your history of pain and the injustices done unto Palestinians [and all others] in the name of colonialism, nationalism, Zionism, God and greed.
However, I challenge you on your unjust assessment of Vice President of the European Parliament, Ms. Luisa Morgantini.
She has spent time with real Palestinians. She and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Maried Corrigan-Maguire were assaulted by Israeli forces with tear gas during the weekly Friday afternoon nonviolent protest against the route of the wall and military occupation in Bil’in on June 6, 2008.
[That REPORT: WAWA Blog June 7, 2008: Tear Gas And Bullets In Bil'in VS International Nonviolent Solidarity]
Gideon Levy wrote: “Europe must come to its senses this week. It must condition the upgrade of relations with Israel on a series of practical steps Israel must take, in the spirit of its declared values. Want an upgrade? Please conduct yourselves according to international law, please respect the most basic human rights, please lift the siege on Gaza. “-http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/992688.html
The way I read the PRESS RELEASE BY LUISA MORGANTINI, Vice President of the European Parliament it seems to me, she is working hard to get Europe and Israel to come to their senses!
ISRAEL DOESN’T RESPECT THE AGREEMENTS: NO TO THE UPGRADE OF RELATIONS WITH EU
IN OCCASION OF THE EU-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION COUNCIL,
On Monday 16th June in Luxembourg, in the margins of the EU GENERAL AFFAIRS and EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL Rome 13th June 2008
“We strongly feel that without serious signs of good faith translated into tangible improvements on the ground, the time is not yet right to upgrade EU-Israel relations” was the final statement by a 14 MEPs ad hoc delegation, belonging to different political groups. The ad hoc delegation visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from 31 May to 2 June. The delegation witnessed the wall, check points, the expansion of the Israeli settlements on Occupied Territories and the siege in Gaza.
“This is not to punish Israel, but to be coherent with our rules - firstly with the respect of human rights that are fundamental in all association agreements between European Union and third countries. Human rights that continue to be systematically violated by the ongoing Israeli policies towards the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian Territory” added Luisa Morgantini, Vice President of the European Parliament, who was also part of the ad hoc delegation.
Regarding the EU-Israel Association Council meeting, scheduled to take place on Monday 16th June, within the margins of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luisa Morgantini reinforced the same reservations expressed by the delegation. “Urgent actions to counteract eroding confidence in the Palestinian- Israeli process are needed,” expressed MEP Morgantini.
The ad hoc delegation to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory, was co-chaired by Mrs Veronique DE KEYSER and Mrs Annemie NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK, and included fourteen MEPs belonging to different political groups. Attached below, is the official statement released by the delegation during a press conference in Jerusalem on 2nd June 2008.
That June 4 Press release is available on WAWA Blog June 4, 2008:
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=926&Itemid=201
I too agree to some extent with what Eileen states, but also feel that Adel is justified in noticing that no European (and here we are talking about one of the very few outspoken ones on this issue) will go so far as to call the spade a spade. It is far beyond human rights violations, something which, sadly, is common in very many countries that are considered democracies, and it is actually preventive terrorism and crimes against humanity. I have met Ms. Morgantini this winter at the Bruxelles Tribunale, and I know she is aware also of the verdict, that Israel was found guilty in that trial of genocide, in addition to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Not even bothering to state this in a moment when she can is sad. Why does she do it? There is something keeping her from stating the truth and going for a watered down version.
Although, it is sad that the most staunch critics of Israel put censorship on themselves, and it is sad that those who put their hope in these people have to bring to the public awareness that there is heavy self-censorship going on, and this is at the expense of people’s lives.
Mazin passes this on…
ACTION ALERT from ISM for people in Europe (although talking points below can be used elsewhere): On the 16th June, the European Union will be discussing the possible upgrading of relations with Israel. Please send this letter to your various representatives and express your concern at this measure while Israel continues to flaunt international law. For details of your representative please follow this link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=EN
Sample letter sent
I am writing to you now in order to express my profound concern about the possible upgrade of relations between the European Union and Israel and urge you to advocate for its rejection within the EU.
Israel’s ongoing systematic violation of Palestinian human rights, its flaunting of both its international obligations and international law is well documented, as is its violation of commitments to the EU itself.
As I understand it, under its ‘European Neighbourhood Policy’, the EU offers to neighbouring nations opportunities for political and economic co-operation. In turn, the EU expects these neighbouring states to respect and abide by EU values and practices, particularly those related to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. In the case of Israel, I am concerned that the EU may be offering opportunities for social and economic cooperation and integration, but abandoning its expectation that Israel will respect and practice the central principles of human rights and international law.
Israel has consistently and flagrantly denied the call for Palestinian national and individual rights, violated international law, defied even the most basic guidelines of the Road Map as discussed at the Annapolis summit in November 2007, and failed to uphold it obligations to the EU under the Barcelona Process. Let me give some specifics:
- Israel has embarked on a siege of the Gaza Strip that has resulted in the denial of medical access, shortages of food, fuel and electricity and stands as a grave act of collective punishment. This siege has been imposed amidst Israeli attacks on Gaza which have shown clear disregard for civilian lives. Water has been severely restricted and polluted in the Gaza Strip, with the Mediterranean now receiving 50 million litres of sewage per day because Gazans have no alternative.
- Israel has continued construction in more than 100 of its illegal settlements in the West Bank and throughout so-called “Greater Jerusalem”
- In the last six months, Israel has issued a call for bids on the construction of 847 new housing units in settlements throughout the West Bank and 1,300 units in East (Palestinian) Jerusalem
- In the last six months, Israel has demolished more than 185 Palestinian structures, including 85 homes
- Israel continues to operate over 600 checkpoints, roadblocks, and other physical barriers to the movement of the Palestinian population.
- Israel has still not complied with the 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice that determined that it must stop
construction of the Wall, remove those parts already built, and provide reparations
- Through a series of restrictions, Israel has consistently hindered implementation of the Interim Association Agreement concluded between the EU and the PLO on behalf of the PNA
- Israel is in direct violation of its Association Agreement with the EU regarding products produced by its illegal settlements. Despite the Association Agreement, Israel continues to export products to the EU as if they were manufactured and/or wholly obtained within Israel and to refund settlement businesses, using illegal subsidies, for import taxes paid by these settlement-based businesses in their export to the EU.
In light of Israel’s systematic breach of European Union, international, and human rights obligations, agreements and laws, the EU’s possible upgrade of its relationship with Israel can only be viewed as a reward to unlawful behaviour. Israel will certainly understand this upgrade as not just a condoning of its behaviour, but as a complete absence of consequences for its illegal and unethical policies and actions.
Moreover, by upgrading its relationship with Israel, the EU would be discarding a key incentive to Israel in proceeding with a just peace process. The EU has a vital opportunity here to play an active role in encouraging a just peace in the region; not by improving its relationship with Israel regardless of its violation of international law, but as a reward for its compliance with international and human rights law and EU agreements.
There is a great need for accountability at this critical juncture in EU-Israel relations. It is imperative that the EU make clear to Israel that the key to improving their relationship lies in embracing and implementing fully the goals and values of Europeans.
I thank you in advance for urging the EU to uphold fair, consistent and objective standards in its dealings with neighbour states and to decide against the upgrade of its relationship with Israel until it abides by international and human rights law and all EU agreements.
==========================
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
From New Profile List Serve:
European Jews for a Just Peace
P.O. Box 59506 1040 LA Amsterdam The Netherlands
Dear Member of European Parliament
At the European Council meeting on 19-20 June, I understand that EU heads of state will consider upgrading political and economic ties with Israel under the EU’s Euro-Med programme. I am writing to you on behalf of European Jews for a Just Peace, to request that you make the strongest representations possible to the EU governments that such an upgrade is deeply inappropriate at this time.
EU officials have emphasised that the importance of maintaining close relations with Israel, at a time when Israel is occupying or blockading Palestinian Territory, is to encourage Israel to adhere more closely to European norms of behaviour with respect to human rights, democracy and international law. This policy has failed.
The Barcelona Declaration governing the EuroMed process—signed by then Prime Minister, now Defence Minister Ehud Barak—commits signatories to:
“act in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other obligations under international law. . .
. . . develop the rule of law and democracy in their political systems . . .
respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and guarantee the effective legitimate exercise of such rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, freedom of association for peaceful purposes . . .
Israel is known to contravene international law, most obviously through the collective punishment of the population of Gaza, so described by External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner in January this year. Less widely known are the many instances where it shows contempt for the rules of its own laws. I have appended some instances for your information.
The intention to promote European values through closer economic, political and cultural ties is noble in principle. In practice, Israel shows no respect for he agreements it has already signed. Now is not the time for the EU to upgrade relations with Israel.
I would be grateful if you would convey these concerns to your foreign minister and let me know their response.
Yours sincerely
Dan Judelson
Secretary
European Jews for Just Peace
June, 12th 2008