A group of almost 500 former diplomats, ministers, and European officials, including former French Prime Ministers Dominique de Villepin and Alain Juppé, have called on the European Union to take action against Israel's colonization project in the occupied West Bank. The project, known as E1, plans to build over 1,200 homes near Jerusalem, which would further isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. The signatories, who also include former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, expressed concern that the EU has not taken sufficient measures to dissuade Israel from pursuing the project.
The E1 project was approved by Israel last year after several decades of freeze, mainly due to pressure from successive US administrations. The project has been criticized for undermining the possibility of a future Palestinian state. The Israeli government is set to allocate contracts for the first phase of the project, despite the Israeli justice system ordering a one-month postponement to avoid disrupting upcoming legislative elections. The delay was announced on September 27.
The former diplomats and officials argue that the EU has failed to meet its obligations under European treaties to act against violations of international law. They welcomed some EU member states' national measures against illegal settlements but criticized others, including Germany and Italy, for blocking EU-level action. The signatories are urging the European Commission to present legislative proposals to sanction institutions and service providers involved in the E1 project and other illegal settlements.
The group is also calling on the EU to implement proposals to suspend trade dispositions in the EU-Israel association agreement. They expect these measures to be taken at the next EU foreign ministers' meeting on October 12. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and colonization has continued to expand, with over 500,000 Israelis now living in settlements alongside around three million Palestinians.
The signatories include two former presidents of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell and Enrique Baron Crespo. They emphasize that certain EU member states have taken national measures against illegal settlements, but others have blocked EU-level action. The former diplomats stress that the EU's inaction emboldens Israel's settlement expansion, which threatens the two-state solution.
Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank has been a major point of contention in international relations. The country's occupation of the West Bank began in 1967, and since then, colonization has continued, with periods of acceleration and slowdown. The international community, including the EU, has repeatedly expressed concern about the impact of settlements on the peace process.
The appeal by former diplomats and officials highlights the urgency of the situation in the West Bank. The E1 project and other settlement expansions are seen as major obstacles to a two-state solution. The international community's response, or lack thereof, will likely have significant implications for the future of the region.
Key points
- The EU must take action against Israel's colonization project in the West Bank.
- The E1 project plans to build over 1,200 homes near Jerusalem.
- The signatories include high-profile former diplomats and officials from across Europe.
