The European Union External Action (EUEA) service spokesperson Maja Kocijancic called Tuesday on Israel to launch an investigation into last week’s demonstration in Haifa.
In a statement the EUEA asked Israel to “conduct a swift investigation into circumstances surrounding last week’s events in Haifa which appeared to result in serious injury of Jafar Farah Director of the NGO Mossawa the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel.”
“The EU will continue to work to create an atmosphere for civil society activity in Europe Israel the occupied Palestinian territories and around the world” the EU statement continued.
“Support for human rights defenders is an integral part of the European Union’s policy on human rights. Human rights defenders represent natural and indispensable allies in the promotion of human rights in their respective countries” the statement reads.
Kocijancic also called on Israeli authorities not to kick out a senior Human Rights Watch official warning Israel not to “join a very short list of countries” that have expelled human rights activists.
“The European Union expects the Israeli authorities to reverse their decision as otherwise Israel would join a very short list of countries which have barred entry to or expelled Human Rights Watch staff” Kocijancic said.
Last week left-wing activists accused Israeli police of badly beating an Arab-Israeli NGO worker after arresting him at a Haifa demonstration against Israeli actions in Gaza.
The rights worker was one of 21 protesters arrested during the demonstration after being brutally suppressed by Israeli forces.
