Occupied Palestinian territories: increase of human rights violations

November the 8th saw yest another tragic and shocking violation of human rights with 18 civilians, mostly women and children, being killed by actions of the Israeli military. We have to condemn the continuing and worsening human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories resulting from the premeditated actions of the Israeli defence forces. European civil society has to demand that the European Union takes full consideration of these continuing violations of human rights by Israel in their negotiations of the EU-Israel Partnership Agreement. Article 2 of the Partnership Agreement makes specific reference to the obligation of Israel to adhere to international human rights agreements and commitments. Avoidance by the EU of recognition of these abuses by Israel as they discuss the Partnership Agreement will effectively condone the continuing and widely documented human rights abuses and undermine paths towards the peace process.