Escola de Cultura de Pau Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to formally annex up to 30% of the occupied
Palestinian territories in the West Bank has once again exposed the
serious impact of Israeli policies on the Palestinian people and has caused
international alarm. Although the details of the initiative are yet to be
defined, multiple international actors have warned that the measure is illegal,
violates basic principles of international law, will have serious effects on the
viability of a Palestinian state and will worsen regional instability, among
other consequences. With this plan looming, the time is ripe to denounce
Israeli policies and, above all, to take initiative against them no matter
what shape Netanyahu’s proposal eventually takes. Nevertheless, it is worth
noting that this is just another step towards the formalization of a regime of
discrimination and violence that many experts describe as apartheid, and
that includes broad violations of the human rights of Palestinians.
Under these circumstances and given the current situation, this report by
the Escola de Cultura de Pau, the Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau and the
Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya discusses the need for EU member
states to halt the arms trade with Israel. This document analyses the current
circumstances of the conflict and presents the national, European and
international laws on this subject that states are bound to. It also reviews
the current dynamics of the arms trade with Israel and makes a series of
recommendations for action from a perspective committed to peace, justice,
and respect for human rights.
Download here .