Chair of the Delegation for relations with Palestine, Martina Anderson, comments: “The violence inflicted on the Bedouin villagers of Umm al-Hiran by Israeli forces is totally unacceptable.”

“At least two people are dead and more are injured as a result of Israel’s policy of driving Bedouins off their land in order to build Israeli settlements.

“The hypocrisy of Israel is palpable – while it destroys the homes and lives of Bedouins and Arab Palestinians, it continues to support the construction of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, against international law.

“The international community must pressure Israel to bring these deplorable actions to an end.”

Cypriot MEP, Neoklis Sylikiotis, also comments: “We denounce the aggressive attack and discriminatory treatment of the Arab minority in Israel. These outrageous and abhorrent practises should stop immediately as they violate human rights.”

“We especially condemn the attack on the Parliamentarians including MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash), leader of the Joint List.

Sylikiotis calls on “the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mongherini, and the EU member states to use the EU-Israel Association Agreement and put an end to this behaviour.”

 

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Nikki Sullings  +32 22 83 27 60 / +32 483 03 55 75