BRUSSELS, March 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, stated on Tuesday that the European bloc is following the debate on judicial reform in Israel promoted by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and will not hesitate to raise its voice if contains aspects that concern you.
Faced with the norm that, according to its critics, would greatly limit the ability of the courts to annul legislation that violates the Constitution, it would give the Executive full control over the appointment of judges, including those of the Supreme Court, and would greatly limit the capacity of the court, Borrell has assured in a debate in the Strasbourg plenary session on the situation in Israel that the country is a “key partner” with whom relations are based on shared democratic values and the rule of law “and Hope this continues.”
“If we have concerns, we will not hesitate to express and transfer them,” said the head of community diplomacy, after stressing that the judicial reform proposed by Netanyahu’s Executive has caused a “heated internal political debate” and that tens of thousands of people demonstrate in the streets.
“Both the government and the opposition use fierce language and it seems difficult to reach a compromise, but the talks continue, also thanks to the efforts of the president. Let us not prejudge the outcome of this debate,” he added, to underline that the EU is a “close observer” of the situation and asking not to jump to conclusions.
CALL WITH COHEN
During the debate, Borrell explained his latest contacts with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, to whom he conveyed the concern of the Twenty-seven over the “growing spiral of violence” in Israel and the Palestinian territories and the need for the two parts “de-escalate” the voltage.
“I was not happy with this debate. I was worried and saying that the European Parliament is interfering,” Borrell said about his contacts with the Israeli minister.
At the time, he has indicated that the EU does not make comparisons between the operations of the Israeli Army and the Palestinian terrorist attacks, but the actions of the security forces must be “proportionate”.
In any case, the person in charge of Foreign Affairs of the EU has defended the role of the European Parliament to discuss the situation in Israel, insisting that it is not an interference but “a way of showing our interest and appreciation for Israeli democracy”.
He has stressed the line of the Twenty-seven that the settlements are illegal under international law and that the Israeli authorities must stop their expansion, demolitions and the eviction of Palestinians. “And to say this is to be anti-Israel? No, the settlements are illegal,” she stressed.
In this sense, he has urged both parties to change the course of their actions and, in particular, Israel to “seriously counteract the violence of extremist settlers and hold its perpetrators accountable” in addition to guaranteeing that its military operations are “proportionate and in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
