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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (442)	11/20/2001 12:04:01 AM
From: Scoobah	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

Europeans continue to show that they have no remorse: pna.net Europe to Boycott Products from Israeli Settlements EU Disapproval of Israeli Policy Translates Into Practical Measures Date:11/13/01 The European Union is planning to announce the cancellation of awarding Israel with low tariffs for products produced in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. According to The Guardian, the European Union has decided to translate into actions, its impatience with Israel and its aggressive policies towards the Palestinians. By ending the 25 year-old preferential tariffs Israel has enjoyed with Europe, the EU would be making the strongest statement of dissatisfaction yet. An announcement on the decision is expected to be confirmed by Brussels, the EU’s current president, sometime next week. This development will be widely welcomed by the Palestinian leadership and Arab states, who have long advocated for such a measure. The issue is of international importance. According to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, an Occupying Power does not have the right to transfer part of its population into the territory it occupies. As a result, the United Nations member states, save for the US and Israel, have recognized the de jure applicability of the Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In addition, the High Contracting Parties to the Convention are set to convene on 5 December to affirm the Convention’s applicability to the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well. Israel and the United States are expected to boycott the scheduled Geneva Conference. In accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention, the EU has long adopted a position refusing to import products produced in Israel’s 189 illegal settlements. The issue of the “rules of origin” has caused strain between Israel and its largest trading partner on a number of occasions. “Several member states have accused Israel of cheating and in some cases national customs authorities have acted to recoup losses”, writes the Guardian. Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Harry Knei-Tal warned that his government would view with suspicion Europe’s claim that it is an honest broker. “It will reopen the question of whether Europe is sincere”, he told the Guardian. According to the Guadian, the European move “reflects anger in Brussels with the [Israeli] government…whose policy of ‘targeted assassinations’ of Palestinian [activists] and prolonged closures of the West Bank and Gaza are blamed for making a bad situation worse”. While the EU has been pushing for the adoption of this measure for years, governments such as Germany and the Netherlands, opposed it, stressing their unwillingness to be applying pressure on Israel. However, the EU has strongly condemned Israel’s “disproportionate” use of force and called on it to end its illegal settlements, especially in the past fourteen months. While the economic consequences to Israel are expected to be symbolic, rather than significant, the announcement would serve a serious blow to Israel’s international standing. As the European Union gains more influence in Middle East diplomacy, with its foreign policy chief Javier Solana repeatedly visiting the area and engaging in “relay diplomacy”, Israel is expected to interpret its punitive measure against products from the illegal Israeli settlement as significant political pressure. Related Articles: