Nine European countries issued a joint statement on Tuesday pledging to continue working with six Palestinian organizations that Israel outlawed last year because Israel had failed to prove its claim that they should be designated as terrorist organizations.
The nine countries are Belgium Denmark France Germany Ireland Italy Holland Spain and Sweden.
“No substantial information was received from Israel that would justify reviewing our policy towards the six Palestinian NGOs” the statement by the countries’ foreign ministries said.
“In the absence of such evidence we will continue our cooperation and strong support for the civil society in the OPT” the statement said referring to the occupied Palestinian territories.
The statement also emphasized that “a free and strong civil society is indispensable for promoting democratic values and for the two-state solution.”
The six organizations are Addameer Al-Haq the Bisan Center for Research and Development Defense for Children International-Palestine the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
