The Mossawa Center calls upon the European Parliament to assure that the upgrade of EU-Israel relations includes provisions to secure equal rights for the Palestinian Arab Minority

November 25th, 2009: At a round table discussion organized by the Mossawa Center in cooperation with Members of the European Parliament, the Mossawa Center called for conditionality in the EU-Israel Upgrade. The discussion, which was attended by over 15 Members of the Parliaments and their representatives and a total of 60 representatives of government officials and civil society actors, demonstrated the growing network of support for this issue.

During the dialogue between Jafar Farah, director of the Mossawa Center, Member of the Knesset Hanna Swaid, Einat Hurvitz, director of legal and public advocacy at the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and six Members of the European Parliament from 4 different parties hosting the event, Farah asserted that the European Parliament must insist on ensuring the equal participation of the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel in all aspects of the upgraded status instruments.

While the upgrade has been temporarily frozen since the Israeli attack on Gaza at the end of 2008, discussions surrounding the upgrade have already been re-launched. “If the upgrade were to be approved by the Parliament, it is critical,” Farah noted, “that Israel is held to the standards of European Neighborhood Policy, such as the establishment of a Subcommittee on Human Rights to replace the informal working group on human rights.”

Member of Knesset Hanna Swaid contributed to the discussion by highlighting discriminatory legislation, home demolitions and political incitement faced by the Palestinian Arab Minority. Swaid also noted that Members of the European Parliament have a responsibility in assuring that the Palestinian Arab Minority is represented in any diplomatic exchange between Israel and the EU and that delegations to Israel from the European Parliament should insist on fair representation of politicians and leaders from this community in the context of the European Parliament’s relationship to Israel.

Hurvitz added by noting the growing number of confrontations between Jews and Arabs in recent years, fueled by racial incitement of religious leaders and groups. The mainstreaming of racial incitement, demonstrated by the adoption of these concepts in the political discourse, Hurvitz asserted, have encouraged these confrontations and promoted policies of segregation between the two communities.

Following the short presentations by each of the speakers, vice chairwoman of the S&D party, Member of Parliament Véronique De Keyser, who also chaired the discussion, expressed support for a two-state solution but noted the complexities surrounding the scarcity of land and the potential difficulties in reaching such a solution. De Keyser then invited the speakers to elaborate on their views regarding the potential implications of a one state solution on the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel.

Member of Parliament Kyriacos Triantaphyllides also expressed hope that a two state solution comes into affect and insisted that in any case the Palestinian Arab Minority in Israel must be represented justly in the diplomatic interactions between Israel and the European Parliament. He asserted that he will push to encourage delegations of Parliamentarians travelling to Israel to meet with Arab members of the Knesset as well.

“There is a need for a greater degree of coordination from the European Parliament itself on the Middle East Issue”, said Member of Parliament Proinsias De Rossa, “and in particular on the Palestinian minority in Israel.” Member of Parliament Reinhard Bütikofer added to the discussion by raising a question on the attitude of the Arab community in Israel regarding a two state solution and adding that that he is grateful for the practical suggestions for the consideration of the Parliament regarding its relations with Israel, which the speakers had raised.

Member of Parliament Niccolo Rinaldi continued the discussion by asserting that he, as a liberal democrat, does not have much support for states based on ethnic and religious groups and that it is important to educate the public on the existence of the Palestinian minority in Israel.

The Mossawa Center will continue to follow up the suggestions made by the Members of Parliament and experts at the discussion, in order to strengthen the dialogue and cooperation between the European Parliament and the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel.



The Round table discussion was part of a two-week advocacy tour in which the Mossawa Center and its partners implemented activities in the Civil Agreement project and raised awareness of the challenges faced by the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel following the formation of the current right wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. The Mossawa Center also met with representatives of the German and Belgian Foreign Ministries to discuss the aforementioned challenges and their implications on the relationship between Europe and Israel.

These issues were also raised by the Mossawa Center at a speaking conference at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, which was organized in cooperation with progressive Jewish organizations and the Arab student Union and attended by over 200 students, activists and lecturers.