IPSC protest visit of EU Preisdent Barroso at Dublin Castle

Today members and supporters of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign staged a three hour vigil at Dublin Castle, using the opportunity of the visit of EU President Barroso to highlight the EU’s disgraceful role in the siege of Gaza and the destruction of the Palestinian people generally.

There were many honks of support from passing cars, interest and wellwishing from passersby, and vocal support from many of the farming community who were also using the opportunity to voice – in their thousands - opposition to current European proposals in negotiations on world trade.

For more on the EU and Palestine see the following article:
http://www.david-morrison.org.uk/palestine/eu-strangles...a.htm

And the following letter issued by the IPSC to José Manuel Barroso – which alas could not be personally delivered to him today:

Letter of 17th April 2008

To: Mr José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

Dear Mr Barroso,

In your speech launching the European Foundation for Democracy through Partnership just two days ago in Brussels, you stated that “the main region in which democratic regimes are still in a minority is the Middle East. We are convinced that if this region took greater steps towards democracy, it would one day cease to be a hotspot of tension and conflict....”

There is general agreement that the only completely democratic election to have been held hitherto in the Arab world was that which in January 2006 brought Hamas to power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Yet the result of this election was rejected by the European Union which, instead, participated alongside the USA in a blockade of Gaza instigated by Israel.

Since, under international humanitarian law, Gaza remains occupied territory - despite Israel's withdrawal of its illegal settlers - the people of Gaza remain “a protected people” under the terms of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The EU's participation in the boycott of a protected people while ever more warmly embracing the state from which they require protection – in this case, Israel – surely constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and is itself a war crime.

That Israel is being warmly embraced by the EU without being required to reverse any of its criminal policies of settlement construction and expansion, construction of the illegal Separation Wall, or demolition of Palestinian homes (for example) is patently clear from the recent assertions by EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner that Israel is “closer to the European Union than ever before” and that a “reflection group” is studying how relations between the two sides can be upgraded to “a truly special status.”

We would respectfully remind you that article 76 of the EU/Israel Association Agreement, conceding trading privileges to Israel, allows for the suspension of that Agreement in the event of human rights violations by either party. In the year 2002 alone the European Parliament twice called for the suspension of the Agreement in view of Israel's egregious violations of Palestinian rights, calls that were ignored by the European Commission. We believe that Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including Gaza) constitute ongoing violations of Palestinian rights, and hence render suspension of the Association Agreement mandatory.

It is our belief that the EU's failure to accept the results of the January 2006 elections, its insistence that Hamas must accept the three demands of the International Quartet without any such acceptance being demanded of Israel, its refusal to avail of legitimate methods to exert pressure on Israel to end its violations of Palestinian rights, and its co-operation with Israel and the US in a boycott of the protected population of Gaza make it impossible for anybody in the Arab or Islamic world to see the EU as anything but a co-belligerent on the side of Israel. We believe that this perception is damaging to all citizens of the European Union, and inimical to the establishment of a just peace in the region.

We appeal to you, as President of the European Community, to use your influence to ensure that the European Union becomes - for the first time - an honest broker in the Middle East. There can be no world peace without a just solution to the Israel Palestine Conflict.

Yours sincerely,
Marie Crawley (Chair - On behalf of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign)