VP/HR — Deportation by Israel of EU citizens
28.11.2013
Question for written answer E-013556-13
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Åsa Westlund (S&D)
Last week, four Swedish Social Democratic politicians flew to Israel to take part in a conference in Bethlehem. The conference was organised by the Olof Palme International Centre (OPC) which works with international development projects, provides party-oriented democratic support and promotes democracy, human rights and peace. The OPC’s activities are financed by the Swedish Government, among other bodies. The four politicians were stopped at passport control at the airport in Israel and were interrogated and questioned about their journey in a humiliating way, without being given anything to drink or eat. They were held in custody for more than 17 hours. After the interrogation they were each put in separate prison cells while they awaited deportation, after having been awake for more than 40 hours. Their passports and mobile phones were taken away from them. The Israelis claimed that the politicians could not give sufficiently detailed information about the subject of the conference and that this is why they were deported. After their deportation, a 10-year ban on entering Israel was imposed on them for reasons which are still unclear.
1. What is the High Representative’s opinion of the fact that Israel has treated EU citizens and representatives of Sweden’s largest party as criminals, has breached their human rights and has deported them without giving a valid reason, when they went to Israel to take part in a conference on democracy?
2. Will the High Representative question the Israelis about their actions when she is in contact with the country and, most importantly, ask them about treating these EU citizens and representatives of Sweden’s largest party as criminals and, in particular, imposing a 10-year ban on them entering Israel?
3. What is the High Representative’s view of Israel making progress towards peace and dialogue in the region more difficult, when this is work that the OPC has been promoting for many years, with funding from the Swedish Government?
OJ C 273, 20/08/2014