moqawama

Where Are The EU Sanctions Against Israeli Crime?

While the European Union supports the continuity of the Zionist occupation in Palestine, turning a blind eye to the uncounted crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, the representative of the EU Catherine Ashton, prancing around the middle east  as if she was in a model show, continues to pressure the Palestinian Authority in the interest of the occupation, loading the crimes of the holocaust perpetrated in Europe against the jews on the shoulders of the Palestinians shoulders, in order to force them to accept useless negotiations with Israel and lengthening the age of occupation, to give up what remains of the Palestinian land to the zionist invaders.

At the same time, the EU continues to take punitive and restrictive measures against a number of prominent figures, diplomats and certain persons suspected of being close to the Syrian regime since before the outbreak of the Syrians revolution against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

For example, on February 21 2006, The EU Council released Regulation No. 305/2006 imposing specific restrictive measures against certain persons suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
The double standards of the EU can be seen in these restrictive regulations, which have increased since outbreak of the revolution. The latest regulation, EU Reg. No. 442/2011,  was issued yesterday 14 November 2011, “concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria against a new list of Syrians”.
Lawsuit Against The European Union
The famous Syrian lawyer Bassam Sabbagh who was mentioned in this latest EU sanction decree No. 442/2011, issued last Monday, stated that was is ready to file a lawsuit against the European Union because of the sanctions that were issued Monday and mentioned him as a supporter of the Syrian regime. Sabbagh claimed that the source of information seems to be silly because the role of the lawyer is to defend his clients, and its illegal to prosecute a lawyer who enjoys immunity. He added that he was neither a lawyer nor financial advisor to Syrian businessman, Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, what was apparently claimed by the EU.
Sabbagh is a well-known lawyer in the Syrian capital Damascus, who defends his clients from private, local and global companies. He said while speaking to the German Press Agency that “I categorically deny that I am a financial adviser to Mr. Rami Makhlouf, and thus I have no possibility of significant financial assistance to the Syrian regime as was stated in the texts of the EU sanctions”.

Sabbagh said: “It is quite clear that the side that stands behind this information is bankrupt because the list issued contains lots of fallacies. It is strange that such a Resolution based on inaccurate information is released by the European Union, before it has even verified the information. The EU must verify this information before the adoption of Resolutions”. Sabbagh stated that he would file a complaint against the EU, which punished him without any reason. He said: “I will file legal complaint before the international judicial court, because the EU does not have the right to deprive me of my legal immunity”.

The actions of the EU, adopting sanctions against Syria and  Syrian citizens on the base of hearsay, must be contrasted with its stance towards Israel. The crimes and the genocidal intent of Israel against Palestinians are a widely known fact, yet there is no atrocity big enough to make the EU implement sanctions against israel. This attitude must change, and Ms. Ashton would do better to understand that implementing tough  sanctions against israel, helping to capture and jail the many representatives of israel and their supporters in Europe whose participation in war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity is well documented, will do far more for her standing and credibility than prancing around like a teenager beauty queen aspirant.

Amendments to Council Regulation (EU) No 442/2011
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2011 of 14 November 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Regulation (EU) No 1150/2011 of 14 November 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Regulation (EU) No 1011/2011 of 13 October 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Regulation (EU) No 950/2011 of 23 September 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Corrigendum to Council Regulation (EU) No 878/2011 of 2 September 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Regulation (EU) No 878/2011 of 2 September 2011 amending Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 843/2011 of 23 August 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 755/2011 of 1 August implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 504/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Corrigendum to Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 504/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 611/2011 of 23 June 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.
Council Regulation (EC) No 305/2006 of 21 February 2006 imposing specific restrictive measures against certain persons suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.