Euro-Med: Stop Funds for Projects Serving Illegal Settlements

Brussels, Belgium, MINA – The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med) sent an urgent letter to the European Union’s (EU) about their participation in EuroAsia Interconnector funding.

It is a power transmission project that aims to build the infrastructure needed to connect energy sources between Israel, Cyprus and Greece, Ma’an News reported, quoted by MINA, Monday (15/4).

The project, which is expected to be implemented in June 2019 with an estimated 3.9 billion US dollars, will not only connect the electricity infrastructure between Israeli cities with Greece and Cyprus, however, it will also include illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem East.

According to the Euro-Med press release, the European Union has been labeled as one of the financiers and project proponents who maintain and strengthen settlements built illegally on Palestinian land in the West Bank and Jerusalem, a step that shows the neglect of international law.

Audrey Ferdinand, Euro-Med legal researcher, said the European Union must comply with its legal obligations under international law, including by not violating its long-standing commitment to a two-state solution.

Ferdinand stressed, While Israel is working on projects to increase its energy source, Israel rejects Palestinian access to basic needs such as energy and clean water.

He also called on the European Union to respect its international obligations and not build partnerships with countries that violate international human rights and humanitarian law for decades.

Euro-Med said it was very surprised, with conflicting policies and non-neutral practices from the European Union.

On the one hand, they are funding projects to help Palestinians suffering under occupation, but on the other hand, they are also funding projects that serve Israeli settlers, the move is an arrangement for “double standard logic”.

Euro-Med asks the European Union to seriously reconsider its biased policies towards the Israeli government at the expense of the Palestinian people.

The European Union must uphold its human rights obligations and stop the project, mainly because Israel continues to expand illegal settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and not rewards them, for such infamous record of human rights abuse. (T / Ast /P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)