The Russell Tribunal on Palestine(RTP), set-up in response to the demands of Civil Society, met in Barcelona for it's 1st Session earlier this week.

During this first session, the Jury, made up of eminent individuals (including Judges, Professors, Lawyers and former heads of states) heard from a number of high profile experts on Palestine / Israel.

The RTP's mandate is to examine whether EU relations with Israel puts the EU in breach of international Law, and what can be done to remedy this.

After taking into consideration many written and verbal submissions by the experts  and witnesses, the RTP concluded that :-

• Israel continues to commit grave violations of International Law against the Palestinians.
• THE EU is also violating International Law by not preventing Israeli action and/or contributing to Illicit Israeli action.
• International Law requires the EU to take action to prevent Israel from violating International Law

The Tribunal calls on the EU and on each of its members states to impose the necessary sanctions on its partner Israel through diplomatic, trade and cultural measures in order to end the impunity that it has enjoyed for decades. Should the EU lack the necessary courage to do so, the Tribunal counts on the citizens of Europe to bring the necessary pressure to bear on it by all appropriate means.

Click here to read the draft  report on the proceedings at the Russell Tribunal, March 2010

Russell Tribunal on Palestine website