EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/25

(2004/C 88 E/0027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1339/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) and Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Persecution of homosexuals in the Palestinian Authority territories and Israeli expulsions of Palestinian homosexuals

According to the GLBT Israeli association ‘Aguda’ and the Haaretz newspaper, on 6 March 2003 two gay Palestinians were tried for being in Israel illegally and consequently expelled to the Palestinian Authority. On 16 March 2003, another gay Palestinian was put on trial for the same charge and after serving his sentence he will be expelled to the Gaza Strip. According to information provided by Aguda, homosexuals in the Palestinian Authority suffer persecution, arrest, injury and torture, at times ending in death, and many of them are likely to be executed. Until a month ago the authorities in Israel did not arrest and/or expel these people, but then this policy was changed and the youths were arrested and brought to trial, and the automatic process of expelling them to the Palestinian Authority began. International human rights organisations are acting to prevent these expulsions, and notably pleaded with the Israeli Interior Minister, Mr Avraham Poraz, to use the authority vested in him by Israeli Law to stop the expulsions by granting temporary residency visas, but Mr Poraz has replied negatively.

Can the Commission confirm this information? Is the Commission monitoring this issue? Will the Commission intervene with the Israeli authorities and particularly the Interior Minister to express EU concern at the fact that these expulsions could endanger the lives of gay Palestinians? Will the Commission intervene with the Palestinian Authority to ensure that fundamental human rights are respected and that persecution against homosexuals stops?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 2003)

The Commission is aware of some of the press reports referred to by the Honourable Member concerning alleged persecution of homosexuals in addition to informal accounts of human rights violations in the Palestinian Territories.

The Commission is concerned by allegations and reports of human rights violations and has, in conjunction with international donors, called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake democratic reforms, to ensure the rule of law, and to respect basic human rights.

The Union is actively participating in the Quartet and the International Task Force on Palestinian Reform, which was established in July 2002 to monitor and support the implementation of Palestinian civil reforms, and to guide the international donor community in its support for the Palestinian's reform agenda. The Task Force is composed of the United States, the Union, the Russian Federation, the United Nations, Norway, Japan, Canada, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It is monitoring progress across key areas such as civil society, public administration and rule of law and recommends further actions to be undertaken by the Palestinian Authority.

The Commission will continue to monitor progress on reform within the framework of Union's bilateral relations with the Palestinian Authority as well as in conjunction with other international donors.

The question of Human Rights in Israel is regularly raised by the Community in its official contacts with Israeli authorities and also when Union-Israel Association Council or Association Committee meets.

Specific cases are followed with attention by the Commission, notably via its Delegations on the ground.