Why EU-Israel data-sharing deal must be quashed

A proposed data-sharing agreement between the European Union and Israeli police must be rejected, asserts Raja Natour. By allowing the exchange of sensitive personal information, this draft agreement could heighten the dangers faced by Palestinians. In December 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shook hands with a high-ranking EU official during a Brussels news conference.

The initiative, initially stalled over concerns regarding Israel's compliance with EU data protection standards and the location of Israel's police headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, continued negotiations even amid the ongoing Gaza genocide. Despite the EU designating Israel as a "priority partner" in 2005, the talks were marred by a clause that would enable the EU to share sensitive personal information about Palestinians with Israel.

This proposal exposes millions of Palestinians to constant surveillance and the risk of their private lives being used against them. The primary concern seems to be Israel's adherence to international law and data protection standards, rather than the potential harm to Palestinians. The negotiations have remained opaque, with EU debates focusing on legal technicalities rather than the grave consequences for Palestinians.

If approved, this agreement would not only disregard Palestinian safety but would also create a hierarchy in which Palestinian lives are deemed less valuable than Israeli interests. The EU's lack of transparency in the negotiation process further underscores the priority placed on process and partnership over the actual impact on Palestinian rights and safety.

This deal should be rejected outright, as the EU acknowledges that Israel is an occupying power violating international law and does not comply with EU data protection standards.