LFoP  Lobby Group

This was formerly the  LFoP Euro-Group which was set up to take the Palestine support campaign to EU level, but now has broadened its remit to include lobbying the UK Government, Parliament and institutions.

 The group meets monthly in central Liverpool. Inquiries: anne.candlin1@btinternet.com. or peterlfop@googlemail.com.

Euro group Lobby of European Parliament in Brussels
Seven members of our Euro group went to Brussels in October 2008, with the help of Chris Davies MEP, to lobby for the suspension of the EUIAA until Israel complies with human rights legislation. Our statement*** gives a detailed account of the reasons for suspension.

Why focus on the EU?

1. EU funding for Palestine
The EU is Palestine’s biggest funder. This is a mixed blessing. Although Palestine would not survive the brutal effects of the illegal military occupation without EU funding, the funding effectively assists the occupation by enabling it to continue. Much of the financial burden of Israel’s occupation of Palestine falls on the European taxpayer. What the EU should be doing, is demanding an end to the occupation, demanding compensation for all the Israeli-destroyed EU and UN projects, and compensation to all Palestinians who have suffered from the occupation. Palestinians should not have to endure the humiliation of relying on International Aid – they are more than capable of running a successful economy given the freedom to do so.

2. The EU: Israel’s biggest trading partner
Under the EUIAA (EU-Israel Association Agreement) Israeli exports are exempt from customs tariffs. Since 54% of all Israeli exports are sold in the EU, the agreement bestows considerable financial and commercial benefits on Israel.
Israel also benefits under the agreement in terms of university places in top European universities for Israeli students, collaboration in the field of scientific research, telecommunications, security and culture.

Article Two of the EUIAA makes the agreement conditional on compliance with human rights law by both its’ signatories:

Relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

Israel’s violations of the human rights of Palestinians are well documented by human rights organisations, including UNHRC, PCHR, B’Tselem, Amnesty International and others. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine and Israel, Professor Richard Falks, Israel is guilty of genocide and war crimes.* Although the EU has temporarily suspended the upgrade of the agreement because of Israel’s recent war crimes in Gaza, the agreement itself is still fully operative. Campaign groups need to put pressure on MEPs and Ministers to get the agreement suspended.

Human rights groups successfully petitioned the EU to establish a human rights sub-committee** as a part of the updated agreement to take place early in 2009. The role of the sub-committee would be to monitor the implementation of the agreement, setting definite human rights targets which Israel must meet on given dates. However, in December 2008, Israel succeeded in getting the EU to exclude human rights considerations from the updated EUIAA.

3. The EU is a member of the Quartet (UN, USA, Russia and EU)

Following Hamas’ victory in January 2006, the EU announced that future aid to the Palestinians is tied to “Three Principles” outlined by the international community:
• Hamas must renounce violence
• Hamas must recognize Israel’s right to exist.
• Hamas must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the Oslo Accords.

These conditions are highly problematic:

Israel consistently uses violence more often than Hamas and there is no recognition that Palestine has a legitimate right to self-defence.
How can Israel receive recognition as a sovereign state, without declaring it’s borders? It extends it’s borders by stealing Palestine land, building settlements, and declaring Jerusalem to be it’s single unified Capital. Palestine’s right to exist as a soveriegn, independent state is daily infringed by Israel, of whom no penalties are exacted.
In breach of the Oslo Accords, Israel continues settlement building on Palestinian territory. The EU fails to imposed sanctions on Israel inspite of it’s breach of UN Resolutions, Article Two of the EUIAA and of the Oslo Accords.

4. The EU is part-responsible for the economic strangulation of Gaza
On 15th November 2005 the Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) was signed between Israel and the PA. This was meant to allow Gazans freedom of movement by ensuring that all of Gaza’s border crossings would be kept open. Karmi, Erez, Sufa and Karem Shalom were to be physically monitored by Israeli soldiers. Rafah Crossing, between Gaza and Egypt, was to be monitored by Egypt and the EU. In fact none of the crossings opened as promised and the Rafah Crossing, meant to be outside Israeli control, was only rarely opened when Israel allowed it. Complete economic collapse has ensued. ****

EU Institutions

It is important to understand legislation is initiated by the Commission but passed by The Council of the European Union (informally known as the Council of Ministers or just the Council) and the The European Parliament. Therefore lobbying has to be directed to all three institutions.
The EU operates through a hybrid system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. In certain areas it depends upon agreement between the member states. However, it also has supranational bodies, able to make decisions without unanimity between all national governments. Important institutions and bodies of the EU include the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank
For information about these and other EU institutions and the way the EU is governed, see:

Government and Citizen rights document

*http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/30-5
** EMHRGN Letter on Human Rights to the EU on 15th October 2008
*** Liverpool Eurogroup Statement on the Suspension of the EUIAA
**** How the EU Strangles Gaza: David Morrison
http://www.david-morrison.org.uk/palestine/eu-strangles-gaza.htm

Calls for suspension of the EUIAA have been made by the following organizations:

COHRE (Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions)
Excellent website with downloadable campaign pack for EU lobbying

Israel: http://www.cohre.org/israel

Palestine: http://www.cohre.org/oPt

LPHR (Lawyers For Palestinian Human Rights)
An action list including calls for suspension of EUIAA
http://www.lphr.org.uk/gaza2009/LPHR_Action_List.doc

War On Want – gives template letter to EU

http://www.waronwant.org/campaigns/fighting-occupation/palestine/action/16414-take-action-on-gaza

PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
Calls on all supporters to contact MPs and MEPs to ask for
Suspension of EUIAA
www.palestinecampaign.org

Solana: EU- Israel Ties Depend on Israel’s Commitment to Peace http://english.wafa.ps/?action=detail&id=12651

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Nick Clegg Gives Views on Palestine/ Israel

 Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg pictured with Peter Reilly (left) and Ted Clement-Evans (right) who were speaking on behalf of Liverpool Friends of Palestine.

Nick Clegg told Peter and Ted in Liverpool, today (2nd April) that it was easy for Party leaders to stay quiet on the Israel/Palestinian situation, but he took a different stand. “I cannot stay silent about injustice”, he said. Apart from the morality issues, he thought that the death and injury of so many innocent people was contrary to Israel’s long term security.   Nick has also criticised the Israeli bombardment of Gaza as, “self defeating, going far beyond Israel’s right to defend itself”. 

For further details of Nick Clegg’s views:
Nick Clegg has called for the suspension of the Israel- EU Trade Agreement http://www.nickclegg.com/2008/12/clegg-calls-for-suspension-of-israeleu-agreement/
He has also demanded that Britain stops arming Israel. See:
http://www.nickclegg.com/2009/01/we-must-stop-arming-israel-clegg/

It seems Nick Clegg is the only leader of any major political party in the UK who is demanding that action and not words are needed to pressurise Israel into conforming to International law.

MEP Chris Davies has welcomed Nick Clegg’s stance:
http://chrisdaviesmep.blogspot.com/2009/01/nick-clegg-talks-sense-on-gaza.html