Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
LONDON, SANA-The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed that the bloc put the political dialogue with Israel on a pause over “possible human rights violations in the Gaza Strip” in the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian enclave, Reuters reported, citing European diplomats and a letter.
The letter was sent on Wednesday to EU foreign ministers ahead of their meeting in Brussels scheduled for November 18. The upcoming meeting is the last Borrell will chair before ending his term on December 1 when the new European Commission will take office.
In his letter, Borrell expressed “serious concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza” and said that, in his opinion, “thus far, these concerns have not been sufficiently addressed by Israel.
” The political dialogue is enshrined in an agreement on relations between the EU and the Jewish state, Reuters said. “In light of the above considerations, I will be tabling a proposal that the EU should invoke the human rights clause [of the bilateral agreement] to suspend the political dialogue with Israel,” Reuters quoted Borrell as saying.
International organizations have regularly accused “Israel” of violating international humanitarian law in its operation in the Gaza Strip.
Mazen Eyon