Former EU diplomats urge bloc to suspend cooperation with Israel
More than 300 former European diplomats and officials have written to the EU to demand that it take decisive measures against Israel.
“We strongly urge the European Union to immediately impose targeted sanctions on the Israeli government and suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement,” the letter from the 314 signatories said.
The agreement – which regulates cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, the environment and research – can only be suspended unanimously.
The letter also called on all EU member states to recognise a Palestinian state.
Pro-Palestine group seeks UK High Court review after refusal to arrest Israeli president
Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), a UK-based NGO that campaigns for justice in Palestine, has filed a claim for judicial review in the British High Court challenging the refusal to grant consent for criminal proceedings and an arrest warrant against Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The NGO had applied to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and attorney general on September 9 to launch criminal proceedings against Herzog, who is visiting the UK, on charges of encouraging indiscriminate attacks on Palestinians in Gaza and the Strip’s civilian infrastructure.
The group said both the DPP and attorney general rejected the request the following day without sufficiently considering widely available public evidence. FOA is now asking the court to review what it described as an inadequate inquiry into an urgent case involving a suspect “imminently within the jurisdiction”.
“How can the Director of Public Prosecution say there is not sufficient evidence? A simple Google search brings up past statements by Mr Herzog that show he is responsible for supporting genocide”, said Ismail Patel, FOA’s chair.
He added that while the refusal was “deeply disappointing”, the group’s resolve to seek justice “will not waver” and will now be “redoubled” as it pursues the case in court.
Italy tells Israel to respect rights of Italian activists on Gaza flotilla after boat attack
Italy has told Israel to respect the rights of Italian activists taking part in a flotilla that is seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, after a boat was attacked with incendiary devices in Tunisian waters.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament on Thursday that Italy would be monitoring the flotilla and providing consular and diplomatic assistance to the 58 Italians taking part, including some lawmakers.
“Our embassy in Tel Aviv, under my instruction, talked to the Israeli authorities about the respect of the rights for all the fellow citizens who are part of the flotilla, including among them several members of parliament,” Tajani said. “I also called Foreign Minister [Gideon] Saar to personally make him aware of the matter.”
Tajani spoke hours before other boats participating in the flotilla were due to set sail from Siracusa, in Sicily. About 600 people in all were sailing from Italy, Greece and Spain.
“We, the civilian population who risk our lives for a sense of humanity, are being labelled as criminals,” said Benedetta Scuderi, a European parliamentarian from Italy’s Greens and Left Alliance, who is among those taking part.
“This is unacceptable and we ask the government of Giorgia Meloni and the European institutions for full diplomatic protection.”
