370 European MPs & MEPs sent a letter to Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, calling to take immediate and concrete steps to prevent the displacement and forcible transfer of Palestinians and to actualise differentiation in all dealings with Israel.
The letter shed light on the widespread displacement and forcible transfer of Palestinians taking place across the West Bank, including imminently in the East Jerusalem neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan.
The letter also quoted some paragraphs of a recent report by Human Rights Watch, which concludes that Israel has crossed a threshold such that its violations in the occupied Palestinian territories meet the legal definition of the crime of Apartheid according to the Rome Statute.
“We stand firm in our support of stated European policy regarding the illegality of Israeli settlements and the importance of differentiating between Israel and the settlements in all relevant dealings, and we call upon Europe to upgrade and actualise its efforts in this regard” the letter reads.
The letter further stressed the importance that the EU and European governments support relevant international accountability efforts.
“We furthermore call on Europe to take immediate and concrete steps to prevent the displacement and forcible transfer of Palestinian families, especially in East Jerusalem.”
“In light of recent events, we are concerned that the continuous occupation, the expansion of settlements and the absence of a peace process aimed at establishing a Palestinian state, will only lead to further violence” the letter concluded.
