ISRAEL AND EU'S CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE
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Le mutisme chronique du Conseil (européen) au sujet des opérations militaires du Gouvernement israélien à Gaza, en Cisjordanie, au Liban, en Iran finit par s’assimiler à une sorte de complicité collective passive - même si cette paralysie est principalement causée par l’obstruction systématique de seulement quelques États membres. Obstruction qui, par ailleurs, démontre une fois de plus les limites institutionnelles de la « politique étrangère » européenne.
Parmi les réactions que suscite cette déshonorante résignation, nous reprenons ici l’introduction et les conclusions d’un article de M. Jim Cloos (1) dans la revue TEPSA (2) dans lequel il préconise cinq mesures que devrait prendre l’Union pour réagir enfin face à une telle violation des règles les plus élémentaires du droit international et humanitaire par un État … « associé » à l’UE.
JGGiraud
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Voir aussi :
Israel and the EU’s crisis of conscience
INTRODUCTION
“Mal nommer les choses, c’est ajouter au malheur du monde.” Albert Camus
What does it say about Europe’s moral compass when, in the face of mounting evidence of massive and far-reaching violations of international law, its leaders cannot agree to act against a close partner? Last week, yet another European Union (EU) ministerial debate on Israel ended in deadlock. Germany and Italy rejected Spain’s proposal to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which offers Israel considerable benefits in terms of free trade and participation in EU programmes like Horizon Europe. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani argued that sanctions would “affect the Israeli population as a whole,” as if the alternative, inaction, did not dramatically affect the Palestinian population ‘as a whole.’ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadepuhl called the proposal “inappropriate,” offering no substance beyond the adjective.
CONCLUSION
The EU would enhance its moral status and its global role if only it spoke up and acted by:
Rejecting the false choice between supporting Israel’s right to existence and standing for Palestinian rights. Both are possible. Both are necessary.
Condemning Israel’s response in Gaza as a disproportionate, indiscriminate war against a trapped civilian population.
Calling the realities by their name: occupation, apartheid, collective punishment, war crimes, and, possibly, crimes against humanity and genocide. Supporting the International Criminal Court’s investigations.
Suspending the Association Agreement or at least parts of it and activating its Article 79.
Pushing for a renewed peace process leading to a two-state solution.
Europe’s credibility hinges on this. If it allows the memory of the Holocaust to be weaponised to justify new injustices, it dishonours its victims. If it stays silent and passive as a close partner flouts international law, it becomes complicit. Albert Camus was right: “To misname things is to add to the world’s misery.” Europe must find the courage to call things by their name and to act accordingly. If it cannot stand up for its own principles now, when will it?
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