Several EU lawmakers urge action against Israel

Several members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have condemned Israel’s settlement activities on occupied Palestinian territories, calling on the EU to take concrete measures against Tel Aviv’s actions.

The new wave of condemnations against Tel Aviv came at a Tuesday meeting in Strasburg, France, during which the MEPs discussed the prospect of reviving the negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

At the event, Head of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Palestine Neoklis Sylikiotis highlighted the “futility” of mere EU condemnations, which have failed to prevent Tel Aviv from attacking Palestinian people, destroying their homes and stealing their land.

“Leniency from the EU has allowed the recent Knesset bill to legalize the theft of private Palestinian land for settlements. This decision violates international law and human rights conventions,” he said.

The Israeli parliament on February 6 rubber-stamped the so-called “Legalization Bill,” which retroactively legalized structures built on Palestinian land.

The move came barely two months after the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring that settlement construction “constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.”

Sylikiotis further said, “All the while Israeli occupation forces continue to expand settlements, attack and kill Palestinian civilians, demolish their schools and homes and imprison children. These actions undermine peace-making efforts in the region.”

He also called on the EU to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel for its violations of the international law.