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Dutch MEPs: International Law Must Be Applied Consistently, including When It Concerns Israel
(JNS) At the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, following numerous statements regarding Israel's "occupation" by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Netherland MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen told the parliament that Borrell's characterizations were "incorrect and careless." "He constantly talks about occupation. According to international law, this is a term that should only be used if the occupied territory belongs to another recognized state. But who did the West Bank belong to before 1967? Not to Jordan, not to the Ottoman Empire, not to Britain. It is peculiar that in the case of Northern Cyprus, where its legal status is crystal clear, the High Representative does not speak of illegal settlement activity." Netherland MEP Michiel Hoogeveen asked, "Why hasn't the EU ever called any other people's residential activities in other occupied territories an international crime? We are aware that there are many territories the EU deems occupied around the world, even in Europe. Yet, people move in and out of them all the time. However, the EU only talks about illegal settlers in relation to Israeli Jews." Prof. Eugene Kontorovich, head of the Kohelet Policy Forum's international law department, said, "It is not just Israelis who are appalled by the EU's creation of supposedly 'international' law rules that only apply to one country." He said, "the term 'illegal settlements' has no general applicability; it is merely a diplomatic euphemism for Jews living where we don't want them to."