Violence in the West Bank escalates, civilians killed, Israel refuses to meet with EU on human rights

The Israeli military confirmed on June 22 that an Israeli civilian was shot near the West Bank city of Qalqilya. The Israeli government has declined an invitation from the European Union (EU) to attend a special meeting to discuss compliance with its human rights obligations under its bilateral agreement with the EU.

An Israeli man was found shot in his car in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on June 22. (Source: Times of Israel)

The Israeli army and police are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the casualties but did not provide further details. The Israeli army statement said: "The army is conducting operations in Qalqilya after an Israeli civilian was identified as having been shot dead in the area." Israeli media reported that the man who died was about 60 years old and was an Israeli citizen of Jewish origin.

There have been several incidents of violence in Qalqilya and its surroundings in recent days. On June 21, Israeli and Palestinian authorities said at least two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli operation in the city.

Israel said the two dead were militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group. Violence in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, has increased over the past year, especially since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or Israeli settlers across the West Bank since October 7, according to Palestinian officials. Palestinian attacks have killed at least 14 Israelis in the West Bank during the same period, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

The Israeli government has declined an invitation from the European Union (EU) to attend a special meeting to discuss compliance with its human rights obligations under a bilateral agreement with the EU, Politico reported, citing a statement from the Israeli and EU delegations.

“In any case, we will not agree to the establishment of a special Association Council, even if the High Representative wants to convene it. We cannot use the Association Council as a lever for… political purposes,” Politico said. In May, EU ministers decided to convene a special Association Council with Israel to discuss compliance with human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in the face of the growing humanitarian toll caused by Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, Politico reported.

Instead, Israel expressed its willingness to convene an Association Council summit in the second half of this year, when Hungary, a pro-Israel state in the bloc, will chair negotiations among EU countries.

In late May, EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced that EU foreign ministers were discussing the possibility of suspending part of the Association Agreement with Israel due to Tel Aviv's actions in the Gaza Strip. He explained that the agreement's provisions relating to humanitarian law were being discussed. Spain had previously called on Borrell to examine whether Israel was complying with its human rights obligations under the Association Agreement with the EU.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-luc-o-bo-tay-gia-tang-dan-thuong-thiet-mang-israel-tu-choi-hop-voi-eu-ve-nhan-quyen-275940.html