The Role of the European Union Democracy Promotion and Human Rights in Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study aims at discussing the role of the European Union (EU) in supporting democracy and human rights in Palestine and its contribution to the development of democratic life and respect for human rights in Palestine. Since 1991, the European Union has prioritized the principles of spreading and promoting democracy, human rights and reform in its foreign policy priorities. Furthermore, the EU allocates hundreds of millions of its annual budget to promote democracy and human rights around the world. Although the EU has shown a drive and interest in spreading democracy and reform in Palestine and Israel, it has not shown a real willingness to implement these policies on the ground or to impose them on their partners. In other words, the political acts of the EU and its members indicates that it tends to support its own political, security and trade interests at the expense of its commitments to support democracy and human rights. In order to evaluate the European experience in supporting democracy and human rights in Palestine from a local point of view, 14 elite Palestinian interviews were conducted. There is a Palestinian appreciation for the economic support provided by the EU, and a wish to size up the political role of the EU by taking more serious steps in dealing with the repeated Israeli violations of democracy and human rights. It is concluded that despite European statements to support and promote democracy, reform and human rights in Palestine, the EU and its member states did not show sufficient willingness to implement these policies on the ground, due to the “pragmatic, utilitarian thinking” that controls the maker of the European decision. Despite the EU’s attempt to balance its goals of promoting democracy, human rights and reform on the one hand, and its security, commercial and economic interests. On the other hand, it is noted that there is a conflict between liberal values and pragmatic utilitarian values, which makes the European Union a realistic player in liberal agenda.