Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed the EU's decision to halt talks about a planned 'upgrade' in relations with Israel.

The Plaid MEP said the move would put pressure on Israel to halt its invasion of Gaza which has killed over one thousand Palestinians including over three hundred children.

Ms Evans has been campaigning for sanctions against Israel following the invasion of Gaza. Now she wants the EU to go further and suspend the EU/Israel association agreement - effectively imposing trade sanctions.

The Plaid MEP is a member of the European Parliament's Palestine Delegation and has visited Palestine and Israel many times as part of European Union efforts to promote peace.

Jill Evans said:

"The EU must put pressure on Israel to halt its massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It is absolutely right that we have suspended talks about upgrading relations with Israel. It would be incomprehensible to give Israel privileged access to the EU whilst this slaughter continues.

"There is growing pressure to impose wider sanctions. In the European Parliament I am supporting a suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement which would halt Israel's privileged trading links with Europe. The agreement places a duty on Israel to respect human rights and they are clearly in breach of that requirement."

Diwedd/Ends.