1. Do you oppose Israel’s violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and do you support Palestinians’ right to self-determination?
1. I oppose all human rights and humanitarian violations, irrespective of who commits them.
2. Will you oppose any upgrade of European agreements with Israel until Israel abides by the human rights clause in the EU Israel Association Agreement?
3. Will you support mandatory EU wide labelling of agricultural goods and wine from Israel’s settlements?
4. Will you support a campaign to exclude all goods entering the EU from Israel’s settlements beyond the Green Line (until a peace deal is agreed)?
5. What else would you try to do to try to achieve justice for the Palestinians?
2, 3, 4, 5. As a UKIP candidate, I do not believe that the European Union is the best vehicle for achieving peace. Each country’s elected government should be free to decide to impose sanctions if it wishes. The UK has its own right to self-determination, and such decisions should not be taken by 28 countries which may go against our national interests. Conversely, the United Nations provides the appropriate vehicle for international pressure to be applied where necessary to achieve peace. Whilst I am a strong supporter of an appropriate negotiated peaceful resolution to this situation, I believe that the European Parliament has been a hindrance rather than a help in the past.
Yours,
Jonathan Arnott (UKIP General Secretary)