Ma'an - A coalition of over 40 non-governmental organizations, private institutions, religious dignitaries and professional unions from Palestinian East Jerusalem have sent a letter to the president of the European Union urging him to ensure that a report by the EU on east Jerusalem is published this year, and not suppressed like in 2005.
In the letter, which Ma'an received a copy of, the Coalition for Jerusalem reminds the EU president, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, that in 2005 a report compiled by EU representatives in Jerusalem and Ramallah was not published as the EU believed at the time that it would be ''counterproductive' in light of political considerations'.
In an accompanying statement, the Coalition says that, 'This veto enhanced Israeli’s ability to blank out the realities of Israeli policies in East Jerusalem–its total disregard of International and Humanitarian law, its relentless effort to seize Palestinian land by force and to replace the Palestinians of East Jerusalem by illegal Jewish settlers through myriad inhuman and illegal tools. The veto also helped Israel to blank out its policies to change the landscape of East Jerusalem, including the Old City, through issuing a City Master plan, which includes the occupied and illegally annexed East Jerusalem, as part of the eternal capital of the “Jewish” state.'
The Coalition says in its letter that it believes that now, in 2006, the region is 'on the eve of another possible defining moment' and the publication of this report , or of a new report being prepared this year 2006, could encourage important discussion on the issue of Jerusalem, which the Coalition says 'remains an issue for the international community and not for Israel alone'.
The Coalition also praises the original report for being 'clearly anchored in international humanitarian law'.
The letter continues: 'None of us doubt the fact that the increasing isolation of east Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied territories and the impoverishment and disenfranchisement of its Palestinian population are contrary to the EU’s strategic and humanitarian interests, as well as it values. Enabling the GoI [Government of Israel] to conduct its external relations with little or no consequence resulting from its ongoing violations of international humanitarian law, including violations of erga omnes obligations, is not in the interest of the Community of states. Avoiding public discussion of such obligations does not build confidence in the prospects for a peaceful political solution.'
A copy of the letter has also been sent to Javier Solana, the EU's chief representative for foreign and security policy.