Saturday, December 17, 2011

EU Redefines "Occupation"

Could it be that from "Occupation I", that is, Israel administration of Judea and Samaria, the EU is moving on to an "Occupation II", pre-Green Line Israel?

Consider this:

Secret EU paper aims to tackle Israel's treatment of Arab minority

The paper approves a move in which the EU would consider Israel's treatment of its Arab population a 'core issue', and not second tier to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As Haaretz notes:

This is an unprecedented document in that it deals with internal Israeli issues. According to European diplomats and senior Foreign Ministry officials, it was written and sent to EU headquarters in Brussels behind the back of the Israeli government.

The suggestion in that report, initiated by the UK, include

that the EU file an official protest every time a bill discriminating against Arabs passes a second reading in the Knesset, and that the EU ensure that all Arab towns have completed urban plans, "with each member state potentially 'adopting' a municipality to this end."

The idea at the basis of this approach is that

"The stalemate in the peace process, and the continuing occupation, inevitably has an impact on the identification of Israeli Arabs with Israel," the document states. "It will be more difficult for Israeli Arabs to be wholly at ease with their identity while the conflict with the Palestinians continues...We should emphasize that addressing inequality within Israel is integral to Israel's long-term stability,"

As was pointed out to me, this next section is most dangerous in that it seeks to undermine a UN recommendation, and previous international legal decisions to define Israel as a "Jewish state":-

"We do not believe that recognition of Israel as a Jewish State should detract in any way from the vision of equality for all its citizens enshrined in its founding documents," the report says.

"It is in the interests of all Israelis to demonstrate that Israel is not only Jewish and democratic, but tolerant and inclusive, and that these are patriotic values. We believe in common with most Israelis that Israeli nationality is an inclusive concept which can accommodate equally those of other faiths and ethnic origins."

"Equality" was not part of our founding documents. The League of Nations Mandate decision reads in its relevant sections on this matter:

it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country;

and

safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine, irrespective of race and religion.

and

The privileges and immunities of foreigners, including the benefits of consular jurisdiction and protection as formerly enjoyed by Capitulation or usage in the Ottoman Empire, shall not be applicable in Palestine.

and

The Mandatory shall be responsible for seeing that the judicial system established in Palestine shall assure to foreigners, as wen as to natives, a complete guarantee of their rights. Respect for the personal status of the various peoples and communities and for their religious interests shall be fully guaranteed.

In Article 11, there is this:

The Administration may arrange with the Jewish agency mentioned in Article 4 to construct or operate, upon fair and equitable terms, any public works, services and utilities, and to develop any of the natural resources of the country, in so far as these matters are not directly undertaken by the Administration.

"Equality" is mentioned as regards matters of commerce and archaeological excavations:

The Mandatory shall adhere on behalf of the Administration of Palestine to any general international conventions already existing, or which may be concluded hereafter with the approval of the League of Nations, respecting the slave traffic, the traffic in arms and ammunition, or the traffic in drugs, or relating to commercial equality...

...This law shall ensure equality of treatment in the matter of excavations and archaeological research to the nations of all States Members of the League of Nations.

The EU response was:

"This report was prepared to stimulate thinking at the EU level on how the EU might engage constructively with governmental and non-governmental interlocutors in Israel with respect to an issue that has been identified in the EU –Israel Action Plan as a shared value, namely to 'promote and protect rights of minorities, including enhancing political, economic, social and cultural opportunities for all citizens and lawful residents,'"

This is nothing if not interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state that possesses an independent judiciary, democratic change of government through regular elections, open organizational affiliaition, right of free expression and assembly, etc.

EU could do better to learn from Israel and, of course, act they way they want Israel to do in their own countries.

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