VP/HR — Comments made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman against Palestinians with Israeli citizenship

12.3.2015

Question for written answer E-004020-15
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Ángela Vallina (GUE/NGL)

The current Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, stated in a conference at the Herzliya Centre that, ‘those who are against us, there’s nothing to be done — we need to pick up an axe and cut off his head’. He subsequently alluded directly to Arabs with Israeli citizenship and even refused to recognise the right to live in Israel of Palestinians who commemorate Nakba Day.

These comments made by a member of a government with which the EU has commercial relations serve only to fuel hate while contributing nothing to bringing peace to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which is characterised by an occupying force whose actions constantly violate the Geneva Convention and several principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the light of these and other comments, does the High Representative intend to condemn these statements and consider the imposition of sanctions?

Taking into account the trade Association Agreement there is between the EU and Israel, Article 2 of which makes reference to the respect for democratic values as the basis for the Agreement, what grounds are there for it to remain in force in violation of a number of resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly?