22 Organisations Call To End Trade With Israeli Settlements

A coalition representing 22 organisations has called on Malta to take further action over Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Activists gathered outside Parliament to hand an open letter to MPs, including Prime Minister Robert Abela, calling for an end to trade with Israeli settlements, a full arms embargo and tighter restrictions on trade and transfers involving Israel.The group said Malta should ensure that its economic activity does not contribute to what it described as the occupation and violations of international law. It also called for a ban on products originating from Israeli settlements.

The Palestinian Ambassador to Malta said the government’s public statements in support of Palestine should be accompanied by practical measures. He pointed to what he described as increasing settler violence in the West Bank, continued Palestinian deaths and the seizure of Palestinian land.

The ambassador said he had visited Palestine twice recently and had observed a deterioration in the situation and an intensification of the occupation.

The organisations also referred to the EU-Israel Association Agreement and International Court of Justice rulings and opinions in arguing that Malta has obligations concerning its trade, investments, companies and institutions. The activists said Malta should take further economic and political measures in response to the situation in Palestine and Lebanon, including measures aimed at securing a ceasefire and withdrawal from occupied territories.

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