As both professionals directly involved in research and members of civil society, we appeal to the EU to mobilize all diplomatic means to pressure Israel to comply with International Law. The move to unilateral annexation is the decisive act of defiance that should be met with sanctions, not with words. In the face of the imminent threat of annexation that would formally establish Israeli sovereignty over stolen territories, we reiterate that the EU should exclude Israel from EU Research Programmes, suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and implement a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel. Exclusion of Israel and Israeli companies accused of war crimes from the research programmes is the absolute minimum needed as a first measure against Israel’s’ violations of international law. As the exclusion of a country from EU Research Programmes does not require a unanimous decision of the European Council and falls under the responsibility of the European Commission and the Parliament, we urgently appeal to you to uphold justice by implementing this first step which is within your power.
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