LOC13:42
10:42 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 27 (KUNA) -- The human rights organisation Amnesty
International Friday criticised the European Union (EU) for failing to put the
human rights issue at the heart of its relations with Israel.
"International human rights and humanitarian obligations should be at the
centre of EU relations with all countries, including Israel," said Nicolas
Beger, Director of Amnesty International's EU Office in Brussels, in a press
release.
"Enhancing relations whilst the EU's own demands and benchmarks are not
being met is a clear case of double standards and sends the wrong message," he
said.
This week, the EU announced it would strengthen its bilateral relations
with Israel by endorsing a package of 60 new areas of cooperation.
On Tuesday, during the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council in
Brussels, the EU did not use its dialogue with the Israeli Foreign Minister to
raise pressing issues such as ongoing violations of international law, said
Amnesty.
"The EU once again failed to address the widespread impunity for violations
committed by Israeli military and security forces, including those perpetrated
during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
"The killing of civilians and various allegations of torture and other
cruel or inhuman treatment are yet to be investigated in an impartial and
thorough manner.
"The EU also turned a blind eye to the increasingly perilous situation of
Sub-Saharan migrants and asylum seekers in Israel, which has recently seen the
authorities initiate a mass deportation of African migrants as well as a
dramatic rise in racially motivated violence," added the release. (end)
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