Brussels:The European Commission is considering an initiative to suspend the partnership agreement with Israel after more than 1.1 million signatures were collected. This initiative follows allegations of serious violations of human rights and international law by Israel.
According to Maan News Agency, the European Commission announced on Thursday that it would examine the European citizens' initiative. This initiative calls for the suspension of the partnership agreement between the European Union and Israel, citing significant human rights concerns.
The initiative successfully gathered over 1.1 million verified signatures from citizens across 12 EU member states, surpassing the minimum threshold required for a formal review at the EU institutional level. This action is part of the 'European Citizens' Initiative' mechanism, allowing EU citizens to request legislative or political action from the Commission if at least one million signatures are collected from a minimum of seven member states.
The proposal demands a complete suspension of the European-Israeli Partnership Agreement, which has been governing trade, economic, and political relations since 2000. Proponents argue that the agreement's clauses on respecting human rights and democratic principles are being violated by Israel's ongoing actions against the Palestinian people. As a result, they assert that the agreement and the privileges granted to Israel warrant re-evaluation.
Led by European entities, civil society organizations, and movements supporting Palestine, the initiative has gained backing from political forces within the European Parliament. This comes amid increasing calls to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip.