EU Energy Deal with Israel Faces Scrutiny Over Palestinian Rights Violations

The European Union (EU) is under intense scrutiny for its energy deal with Israel, which may be breaching international law and trampling on Palestinian rights, according to a report by the campaign group Global Witness shared exclusively with the Guardian. The EU's commitment to securing alternative energy sources from Israel following Russia's invasion of Ukraine is now clouded by allegations that the deal is complicity in violating humanitarian norms and Palestinian sovereignty. Global Witness has called for the EU to cancel all gas imports linked to the East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) pipeline, which is said to traverse Palestinian waters. The report coincides with findings by the European Commission suggesting Israel may be infringing on human rights obligations amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and increasing settler violence in the West Bank. The background to this issue lies in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the EU, Israel, and Egypt in June 2022, which aimed to ensure a stable supply of natural gas to Europe. The need for alternative energy sources was exacerbated by Russia's military actions; however, the implications of this deal for Palestinian rights have raised alarms from international law experts. Legal opinions indicate that the pipeline, running parallel to the Gaza coastline, was unilaterally constructed and operated by Israel without the consent of Palestinian authorities. Human rights barrister Zehrah Hasan of Garden Court Chambers emphasized that the pipeline represents a breach of international law as Israel exploits the territory without granting the Palestinian people the opportunity to set financial or environmental regulations. Experts warn that the EU's involvement in this deal could constitute a breach of both customary international law and EU law itself. Professor Gleider Hernández, a public international law expert, pointed out that while the analysis hinges on Palestine's recognized statehood, Israel's duties as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention are undeniable. Israel's actions in constructing the pipeline, he noted, may lead to significant legal ramifications for the EU. The severity of the situation was reinforced by last year's non-binding advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The ICJ called upon nations, including EU member states, to not recognize the occupation as lawful or support it in any capacity. Calls for reevaluation of the MoU are intensifying, with some EU officials asserting that continuing the energy partnership may violate international legal commitments. Barry Andrews, an Irish Member of the European Parliament, expressed that the EU risks complicity in Israel's actions given the backdrop of ongoing violence in Gaza, which has reportedly resulted in substantial civilian casualties since October 2023. Critics argue that the EU's actions represent a double standard, especially as it seeks to position itself as a defender of human rights post-invasion of Ukraine. Sarah Biermann Becker from Global Witness has accused the EU of enabling a deal that undermines Palestinian rights while indirectly funding what she terms Israel's acts of genocide against the people of Gaza. As tensions escalate and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the EU must grapple with the ethical implications of its energy agreements with Israel. An upcoming EU meeting on July 15 aims to address these pressing concerns and reassess the implications of the energy deal on human rights and international law. As the global community watches, the future of EU-Israel relations may depend on the bloc’s willingness to align its energy strategies with its professed commitment to uphold human rights. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2