Arab human rights organizations calls europe to take stance on Palestinian issue

A group of 22 Arab human rights organizations called the European Union to take a stance on the Palestinian issue, in tune with human rights principles.

They also called for EU's efforts to have the UN human rights commission adopt a resolution supporting the Palestinian people rights.

The Cairo-based human rights center said a memo signed by 22 Arab human rights organizations was sent to Swedish ambassador in Cairo (Sweden is presently holding the EU rotating chairmanship). The memo is a prelude to a long-term dialogue with the EU on the dangers of politicization of the human rights issue and of failure to require that Israel gives accounts on its blatant violations of human rights.

The civil society has been unable to ensure the enforcement of resolutions, including some which were adopted over 50 years ago, the memo regrets adding Israel could not have continued to perpetrate various crimes against humanity, if it had not enjoyed a special US protection and mere lip denunciation from the European Union.

The group of organizations also called for political and economic sanctions against Israel to force it respect international legality resolutions and renewed that the UN general assembly has legal responsibility toward the Palestinian people.

The memo was sent in response to the EU's non-voting for a draft resolution on the Palestinian issue by the human rights commission's last October meeting.