Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission

15.9.2016

The EU firmly condemns threats and violence against human rights defenders under all circumstances. The EU regularly raises questions related to the protection of human rights and human rights defenders in its dialogue with the Israeli authorities, and calls on both Israel and the Palestinians to refrain from provocation and to resolutely fight incitement and hate speech.

The EU stands firm in protecting freedom of expression and freedom of association in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is applicable on EU Member States' territory, including with regard to BDS actions carried out on this territory. Freedom of expression, as underlined by the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, is also applicable to information or ideas ‘that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population’[1]. The EU rejects the BDS campaign's attempts to isolate Israel and is opposed to any boycott of Israel.

• [1] Case Handyside vs United Kingdom