European pledge to candidates for MEPs – EU’s must end its complicity in Israel’s war crimes against the Palestinian people
Answers to our questions:
1. Arnout Hoekstra – Candidate leader SP Europe
Will you as elected member of the EU parliament:
* Protect European citizens’ right to Free Expression, including the right to participate in the nonviolent campage for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and act against any attempt to criminalise solidarity with the Palestinian people?
Certainly. Nonviolent campaigns should always have a place in a democracy, which also means that the SP will always protest when attempts to forge solidarity with the Palestinians are being sabotaged.
* Reject any upgrade of the European treaties with Israel and call for the suspension of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel (EuroMed) until Israel respects the human rights clause of that agreement?
The SP has been advocating the suspension of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel if Israël doesn’t change its settlement policy immediately. The latter is a real example of the violation of article 2 of the agreement.
* Support the exclusion of the Israeli arms industry and other military companies from EU research programs and EU contracts?
Absolutely. In general the SP favours an arms embargo on Israël. We also asked question in the European Parlement regarding EU subsidies granted to an Israeli cosmetics company that is active in the West Bank.
* Support the call to ban the import and sale of goods, services and of course natural resources from Israels illegal settlements nederzettingen in Palestine?
The SP thinks that products from the illegal Israeli settlements should not get access tot he Dutch and European markets. In addition the labelling system the EU uses doesn’t work.
2. Bas Eickhout – MEP GROENLINKS
Will you as elected member of the EU parlement:
* Protect European citizens’ right to Free Expression, including the right to participate in the nonviolent campage for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and act against any attempt to criminalise solidarity with the Palestinian people?
The GreenLeft party is attached to Freedom of Speech as a core value in a healthy democracy. GL wants to make sure the European Union acts more decisively to defend this core value. We are opposed to banning and criminalising points of view.
* Reject any upgrade of the European treaties with Israel and call for the suspension of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel (EuroMed) until Israel respects the human rights clause of that agreement?
GL wants the suspension of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel as long as Israel continues with its serious violations of international law that block peace.
* Support the exclusion of the Israeli arms industry and other military companies from EU research programs and EU contracts?
GL wants the EU to stop collaborating with the Israeli arms industry.
* Support the call to ban the import and sale of goods, services and of course natural resources from Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine?
GL wants the EU to take firm measures to prevent companies from profiting from the Israeli settlement policy.
3. Corianne Nieuwenhuis, SGP (on behalf of ChristenUnie-SGP)
The way you ask the question brings with it many sensitivities. Experience in the region shows that on the one hand Israel feels like it stands alone against Europe due to a lack of support or recognition of the difficult position they are in in the Middle East. On the other hand, the Palestinians also feel left alone by Europe and would like to see more action in the field of peace talks, equal rights and the creation of an independent state. The SGP has always tried to become aware of both sides of the conflict and to assist the population groups in their individual needs. Nevertheless, with our Biblical point of view and historical ties with the Jewish people, we feel connected to Israel. In doing so, we are particularly committed to fighting anti-Semitism, which is also creeping back in Europe.
QUESTIONS:
Will you as elected member of the EU parliament:
* Protect the right of European citizens to freedom of expression, including the right to participate in the non-violent campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and act against any attempt to criminalise solidarity with the Palestinians?
The question is not entirely clear to us, but if you’re asking whether the SGP supports the BDS movement, then our answer is clear: no. Nevertheless, everyone is free to express their opinion or support on any subject. We would, however, like to inform you that the consequences of the BDS ideas and actions on the ground have few consequences for the Israeli economy, but rather affect the Palestinian population. During working visits we saw how employment, especially for the Palestinian population in the settlements, has given a huge boost to employment and cash flow in the community. Employees feel appreciated, and enjoy working for Israeli companies with good labor conditions such as Israeli pensions and social rights. Removing this employment, as the Soda Stream factory has done, is very destructive and costs many jobs and economic growth precisely for the Palestinians.
* Reject any upgrade of the European treaties with Israel and call for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement (EuroMed) until Israel respects its human rights clause?
Suspending the association agreement (which, by the way, needs to be renewed) will further deteriorate the EU’s relations with and influence on Israel. In addition, there are many negative aspects in the EU regarding the relationship with Israel, while the links in science, technology and trade are very strong. Much more positive talk needs to be made about the things that are going well and where both sides benefit the most. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, the two cannot live without each other. For that reason alone, the cancellation of the association agreement is a pointless goal, and is unrealistic considering the historical link between the EU and Israel and also for practical reasons.
Regarding the human rights clause: Israel strives to function as a democratic country in the Middle East in very threatening and challenging circumstances. The necessary presence of military and security personnel with all its consequences is not something that Israel strives for, but has cause and effect. Our greatest wish is for peace to come to the Middle East and also between the Palestinians and Israelis. The cycle of violence, discontent and distrust will have to be broken from both sides to come to a situation where everyone can live in peace and prosperity.
* Support the exclusion of the Israeli arms industry and other military companies from EU research programs and contracts?
To our knowledge EU research contracts supported by the EU are always open and transparent. Of course you are free not to support certain contracts with countries. In an ideal world, supporting the arms industry would not be desirable. Unfortunately, we live in a broken world where people threaten each other’s lives, and where one nation must defend its right to exist against another people. It would be naive not to develop defensive means at all, while the other parties continue to develop dangerous weapons.
* Support the call for banning the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources from Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine?
No, as I said, we do not support the BDS movement, and we find it destructive, especially for the employment of the Palestinians, to ban imports of goods from the settlements.