EU attempt to pressure Israel backfires

Jerusalem Post:
Israel has severed cooperation with the European Union in Area C of the West Bank in response to new measures the EU has taken against settlements.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon ordered the IDF’s civil administration to cease cooperation in joint projects with the EU, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

This means that the IDF will refuse to grant new permits or renew existing permits for EU construction projects in Area C, which is territory under Israeli civil and military control. It also will not issue or renew any documents that EU personnel might need for travel in the West Bank or into Gaza from Israel.

In addition, IDF offices in the West Bank, such as the civil administration and the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, will no longer hold work meetings with EU officials or personnel.

Some of the EU-led projects in the West Bank include a program to train Palestinian Authority police officers in basic and advanced policing skills, and a waste removal program.

Neither will receive Israel’s cooperation any longer.
...

His directive came as the EU was increasing its involvement in the development of Palestinian projects in Area C. It also followed a series of EU decisions in the past half-year against West Bank settlements.

In December 2012, the European Union decided that future agreements with Israel would explicitly state that they did not apply to areas beyond the pre-1967 lines. The exact language to be used in future agreements and understandings with the EU is still under discussion.

Last week the EU published new guidelines, which clarified that prizes, grants and funding could not be awarded to Israeli entities, including non-profits and educational institutions, located beyond the pre-1967 lines.
...
I don't understand the EU fascination with the Palestinian entity.  They are a group taht have turned down plenty of opportunities to have their own state going back as far as 1048.  They have net to renounce the anti Jewish material in their textbooks, or also reject their desire to remove Israelis from the area.  It is hard to have any sympathy for their circumstances.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Should Republicans go ahead and add Supreme Court Justices to head off Democrats

29 % of companies say they are unlikely to keep insurance after Obamacare

Bin Laden's concern about Zarqawi's remains