20 july 2013
Israel has been protesting all week, but to no avail. On Friday, the EU issued new guidelines prohibiting bloc money from going to Israeli institutions operating in the settlements. President Peres warned the measure could "cause a crisis."
Israel is furious. New European Union guidelines preventing bloc funds from being distributed to Israeli institutions operating in settlements outside the country's 1967 borders have triggered protest from the highest levels. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have criticized the ban and asked Brussels to reconsider.
ANZEIGE On Friday, the day on which the EU officially published the new guidelines, [PDF] it seemed as though the German Foreign Ministry may have been listening. Speaking with mass-circulation daily Bild, a spokeswoman from the ministry said that the European Commission "developed the guidelines on their own prerogative." That, of course, is only partially true. EU foreign ministers approved the guidelines unanimously. But it may indicate that the vociferous protests from Israel, including several calls from Netanyahu to European leaders, are having an effect. While Netanyahu's office has refused to divulge the contents of those calls, Israeli media have reported that he asked his European counterparts to delay the implementation of the guidelines, which are currently scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of 2014.
EU Isn't Budging
The complaints, though, have fallen on deaf ears in Brussels. On Friday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton released a statement saying the guidelines "reiterate the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967." It also states: "It has been the EU's long-held position that it will recognize changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties."
In other words, the EU isn't budging.
The guidelines themselves are not likely to result in massive changes to the EU's presence in Israel. They merely stipulate that institutions based in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem are not eligible to receive grants, prizes or other financial instruments funded by the common European Union budget as of Jan. 1, 2014. The document published on Friday clearly states that "the EU does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over any of the (occupied) territories."
The spat between the EU and Israel comes as the US is making a major push to encourage the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations. US Secretary of State John Kerry was in the Middle East on Thursday in an attempt to facilitate talks, and he was backed by a strong statement from the White House urging Netanyahu to work with Kerry "to resume negotiations with Palestinians as soon as possible."
With the Palestinians demanding preconditions that are unpalatable to the Israelis, it seems unlikely that negotiations will begin anytime soon. But Israeli President Peres suggested that the EU ban could also have a negative effect on the push. On Thursday, he said that the EU should "give priority to peace" and added that the regulations "could cause another crisis."
'Homeland'
Despite the doomsday tone, however, Peres' comments were a far cry from the sharp words chosen by members of the Netanyahu government earlier in the week. "This is a decision marked with racism and discrimination against the Jewish people that is reminiscent of boycotts against the Jews from over 66 years ago," said Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel, according to a report earlier this week in the Jerusalem Post. A deputy minister and close ally of Netanyahu's, Ofir Akunis, said that "steps like this, before the Palestinians even said they are ready to return to negotiations, push talks away and do not bring them closer." He added, referring to the West Bank, that "Judea and Samaria are not occupied, they are the cradle of the homeland of the Jewish people."
According to an Israeli government official, Israel called in ambassadors from Britain, France and Germany on Friday to discuss the EU guidelines and to warn that they could trigger a serious crisis between the EU and Israel. "We have asked the ambassadors to inform their capitals that no Israeli government can accept the aforementioned guidelines," an unnamed Israeli diplomat told the news agency AFP on Friday. Still, the frustration in Israel was not unanimous this week. Several center-left parliamentarians said the EU move was a wakeup call for the Netanyahu government to move forward with peace negotiations. "Prime Minister Netanyahu must immediately start negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and work toward a final agreement," Shelly Yacimovich, a leading parliamentarian with the Labor party, said according to the Jerusalem Post.
EU foreign policy chief Ashton was eager on Friday to emphasize that Europe remains dedicated to peace talks in the Middle East. "The EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage," she said in her statement. "In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties."
EU Publishes Guidelines Banning Funding for Israeli Settlements
In spite of strong Israeli objections, the European Union Friday went ahead and published guidelines that ban EU funding of projects and individuals in the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement meant to clarify the EU position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014 that the guidelines reiterate “the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967.”
She rejected Israeli claims that publishing the guidelines would undermine peace efforts spearheaded by the United States and stressed that “in no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Ashton said that “the EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports (US) Secretary (of State John) Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage. In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties.”
The specific provisions of the guidelines will not be implemented before 1 January 2014.
Israel is furious. New European Union guidelines preventing bloc funds from being distributed to Israeli institutions operating in settlements outside the country's 1967 borders have triggered protest from the highest levels. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have criticized the ban and asked Brussels to reconsider.
ANZEIGE On Friday, the day on which the EU officially published the new guidelines, [PDF] it seemed as though the German Foreign Ministry may have been listening. Speaking with mass-circulation daily Bild, a spokeswoman from the ministry said that the European Commission "developed the guidelines on their own prerogative." That, of course, is only partially true. EU foreign ministers approved the guidelines unanimously. But it may indicate that the vociferous protests from Israel, including several calls from Netanyahu to European leaders, are having an effect. While Netanyahu's office has refused to divulge the contents of those calls, Israeli media have reported that he asked his European counterparts to delay the implementation of the guidelines, which are currently scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of 2014.
EU Isn't Budging
The complaints, though, have fallen on deaf ears in Brussels. On Friday, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton released a statement saying the guidelines "reiterate the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967." It also states: "It has been the EU's long-held position that it will recognize changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties."
In other words, the EU isn't budging.
The guidelines themselves are not likely to result in massive changes to the EU's presence in Israel. They merely stipulate that institutions based in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem are not eligible to receive grants, prizes or other financial instruments funded by the common European Union budget as of Jan. 1, 2014. The document published on Friday clearly states that "the EU does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over any of the (occupied) territories."
The spat between the EU and Israel comes as the US is making a major push to encourage the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations. US Secretary of State John Kerry was in the Middle East on Thursday in an attempt to facilitate talks, and he was backed by a strong statement from the White House urging Netanyahu to work with Kerry "to resume negotiations with Palestinians as soon as possible."
With the Palestinians demanding preconditions that are unpalatable to the Israelis, it seems unlikely that negotiations will begin anytime soon. But Israeli President Peres suggested that the EU ban could also have a negative effect on the push. On Thursday, he said that the EU should "give priority to peace" and added that the regulations "could cause another crisis."
'Homeland'
Despite the doomsday tone, however, Peres' comments were a far cry from the sharp words chosen by members of the Netanyahu government earlier in the week. "This is a decision marked with racism and discrimination against the Jewish people that is reminiscent of boycotts against the Jews from over 66 years ago," said Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel, according to a report earlier this week in the Jerusalem Post. A deputy minister and close ally of Netanyahu's, Ofir Akunis, said that "steps like this, before the Palestinians even said they are ready to return to negotiations, push talks away and do not bring them closer." He added, referring to the West Bank, that "Judea and Samaria are not occupied, they are the cradle of the homeland of the Jewish people."
According to an Israeli government official, Israel called in ambassadors from Britain, France and Germany on Friday to discuss the EU guidelines and to warn that they could trigger a serious crisis between the EU and Israel. "We have asked the ambassadors to inform their capitals that no Israeli government can accept the aforementioned guidelines," an unnamed Israeli diplomat told the news agency AFP on Friday. Still, the frustration in Israel was not unanimous this week. Several center-left parliamentarians said the EU move was a wakeup call for the Netanyahu government to move forward with peace negotiations. "Prime Minister Netanyahu must immediately start negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and work toward a final agreement," Shelly Yacimovich, a leading parliamentarian with the Labor party, said according to the Jerusalem Post.
EU foreign policy chief Ashton was eager on Friday to emphasize that Europe remains dedicated to peace talks in the Middle East. "The EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage," she said in her statement. "In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties."
EU Publishes Guidelines Banning Funding for Israeli Settlements
In spite of strong Israeli objections, the European Union Friday went ahead and published guidelines that ban EU funding of projects and individuals in the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement meant to clarify the EU position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014 that the guidelines reiterate “the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967.”
She rejected Israeli claims that publishing the guidelines would undermine peace efforts spearheaded by the United States and stressed that “in no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Ashton said that “the EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports (US) Secretary (of State John) Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage. In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties.”
The specific provisions of the guidelines will not be implemented before 1 January 2014.
Laborers working at the construction site of a new housing project at the settlement of Gilo in al-Quds
The (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council [(P)GCC] has hailed the European Union’s plans to ban the bloc from funding projects in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian territories.
The six-member state council welcomed "the European Union's decision which they hope will back international efforts to revive peace talks between Palestinians and Israel, and press Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories," Secretary-General of the Council Abdullatif al-Zayani, said on Saturday.
The EU published new guidelines in its Official Journal on Friday, banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in al-Quds (Jerusalem), the West Bank or Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.
Zayani said the EU ban was “wise” and “reflects the EU's solid stance in rejecting Israel's settlement policy and its confiscating of Palestinian territories in a clear violation of all agreements, international law, and UN resolutions."
The Guidelines are part of the 2014-20 financial frameworks which incorporate all sectors of cooperation between the EU and Israel, including economics, science, culture, sports and academia.
On Thursday, Israeli officials met with the British, French, and German ambassadors over the EU ban, claiming that the move would lead to a serious crisis between Israel and the EU.
Earlier in the day, Israeli President Shimon Peres joined the chorus of Israeli officials criticizing the EU decision. He claimed that the new directive would undermine attempts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to relaunch peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member observer state on November 29, 2012.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. The international community considers the settlements illegal.
The (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council [(P)GCC] has hailed the European Union’s plans to ban the bloc from funding projects in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian territories.
The six-member state council welcomed "the European Union's decision which they hope will back international efforts to revive peace talks between Palestinians and Israel, and press Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories," Secretary-General of the Council Abdullatif al-Zayani, said on Saturday.
The EU published new guidelines in its Official Journal on Friday, banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in al-Quds (Jerusalem), the West Bank or Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.
Zayani said the EU ban was “wise” and “reflects the EU's solid stance in rejecting Israel's settlement policy and its confiscating of Palestinian territories in a clear violation of all agreements, international law, and UN resolutions."
The Guidelines are part of the 2014-20 financial frameworks which incorporate all sectors of cooperation between the EU and Israel, including economics, science, culture, sports and academia.
On Thursday, Israeli officials met with the British, French, and German ambassadors over the EU ban, claiming that the move would lead to a serious crisis between Israel and the EU.
Earlier in the day, Israeli President Shimon Peres joined the chorus of Israeli officials criticizing the EU decision. He claimed that the new directive would undermine attempts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to relaunch peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member observer state on November 29, 2012.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. The international community considers the settlements illegal.
19 july 2013
Quarry in Mount Avital, Golan Heights. To lose funding
Despite Israeli leaders' appeals, European Union releases guidelines denying Israeli entities operating beyond Green Line of EU funding. Decision to go into effect next year
The European Union on Friday issued its official guidelines on the funding of Israeli projects beyond the Green Line which will dramatically reduce the ability of Israeli entities operating in the West Bank to receive grants and prizes from EU states. The guidelines will go into effect in the beginning of next year.
The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also issued a statement in which it was stated that, “Today the EU published a document that reiterates the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967.
"This is meant to clarify the EU's position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014.
"In no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been the EU's long held position that it will recognise changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties.
"The EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage. In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties."
Ashton further added that the EU looks forward to working and consulting with Israel on a broad range of bilateral issues, and has invited Israel to hold discussions on the territorial scope of agreements with the EU that are currently under preparation."
Israel led a failed campaign to postpone the release of the guidelines. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to various European leaders as did President Shimon Peres.
Netanyahu anyahu called a meeting with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett stressing that "We will not follow any demands regarding our borders. These issues will be resolved only through direct negotiations."
The European decision followed months of discussions at the various EU bodies. Europe warned Israel many times of possible sanctions against settlements but Jerusalem tended to disregard such threats.
The guidelines will have a dramatic effect on various projects but will not affect funding of institutions that employ settlers. Entities that are based inside Israel will continue to enjoy EU cooperation as will government agencies and ministries some of which are physically located beyond the Green Line.
Related stories:
Despite Israeli leaders' appeals, European Union releases guidelines denying Israeli entities operating beyond Green Line of EU funding. Decision to go into effect next year
The European Union on Friday issued its official guidelines on the funding of Israeli projects beyond the Green Line which will dramatically reduce the ability of Israeli entities operating in the West Bank to receive grants and prizes from EU states. The guidelines will go into effect in the beginning of next year.
The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also issued a statement in which it was stated that, “Today the EU published a document that reiterates the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967.
"This is meant to clarify the EU's position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014.
"In no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been the EU's long held position that it will recognise changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties.
"The EU is deeply committed to Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage. In this way, the EU hopes to further contribute to an atmosphere conducive to a meaningful and sustainable negotiation leading to a peace agreement between the parties."
Ashton further added that the EU looks forward to working and consulting with Israel on a broad range of bilateral issues, and has invited Israel to hold discussions on the territorial scope of agreements with the EU that are currently under preparation."
Israel led a failed campaign to postpone the release of the guidelines. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to various European leaders as did President Shimon Peres.
Netanyahu anyahu called a meeting with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett stressing that "We will not follow any demands regarding our borders. These issues will be resolved only through direct negotiations."
The European decision followed months of discussions at the various EU bodies. Europe warned Israel many times of possible sanctions against settlements but Jerusalem tended to disregard such threats.
The guidelines will have a dramatic effect on various projects but will not affect funding of institutions that employ settlers. Entities that are based inside Israel will continue to enjoy EU cooperation as will government agencies and ministries some of which are physically located beyond the Green Line.
Related stories:
EU says will recognize Israel border changes once PA agrees
The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton issued a statement after the EU formally issued the settlement ban document. "This is meant to clarify the EU's position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014," Ashton's statement said.
It was further added, "In no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been the EU's long held position that it will recognise changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties. The EU fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage.
The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton issued a statement after the EU formally issued the settlement ban document. "This is meant to clarify the EU's position in advance of negotiations of agreements with Israel during the forthcoming financial perspective commencing in 2014," Ashton's statement said.
It was further added, "In no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been the EU's long held position that it will recognise changes made to the borders once agreed by both parties. The EU fully supports Secretary Kerry's intense efforts to restart negotiations at a particularly delicate stage.
A man walks in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Beit El.
Israel met the ambassadors of Britain and France, and Germany's deputy envoy over plans by the EU to ban its 28 members from having any dealings with Jewish settlements, an official said on Friday.
Israel warned the envoys of a serious crisis between it and the European Union over the move, the high-ranking foreign ministry official told AFP.
"The British and French ambassadors and German number two were invited yesterday to the ministry... for discussions on the EU guidelines," he said.
"We asked the ambassadors to tell their capitals that no Israeli government would accept these conditions, and they could provoke a serious crisis with Israel," he warned.
The guidelines, published in the EU's Official Journal Friday morning, forbid EU member states from funding or dealing with entities in territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
Germany and France confirmed the Thursday meetings but the British embassy did not immediately comment.
Christophe Bigot, France's ambassador in Tel Aviv, said the Israeli foreign ministry's director, Rafi Barak, had called the meetings.
"The Israelis informed us of their concerns" over the EU plan, he said. "I reminded them that the new guidelines were a continuation of European policy on settlements."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said in a Friday statement that the guidelines simply "reiterates the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967."
The preamble to the guidelines says that "the EU does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over... the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including east Jerusalem... and does not consider them to be part of Israel's territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic law".
The guidelines apply to "grants, prizes and financial instruments," it adds.
"Only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel's pre-1967 borders will be considered eligible as final recipients" of this kind of funding.
Of particular concern to officials was a scientific cooperation deal with the EU, "Horizon 2020", which would generate investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Israeli technology companies, Haaretz newspaper quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.
More than 80 percent of Israelis are opposed to the new EU guidelines, according to a survey published Friday by pro-government newspaper Israel Hayom.
Settlement building in the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War is illegal under international law.
Israel met the ambassadors of Britain and France, and Germany's deputy envoy over plans by the EU to ban its 28 members from having any dealings with Jewish settlements, an official said on Friday.
Israel warned the envoys of a serious crisis between it and the European Union over the move, the high-ranking foreign ministry official told AFP.
"The British and French ambassadors and German number two were invited yesterday to the ministry... for discussions on the EU guidelines," he said.
"We asked the ambassadors to tell their capitals that no Israeli government would accept these conditions, and they could provoke a serious crisis with Israel," he warned.
The guidelines, published in the EU's Official Journal Friday morning, forbid EU member states from funding or dealing with entities in territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
Germany and France confirmed the Thursday meetings but the British embassy did not immediately comment.
Christophe Bigot, France's ambassador in Tel Aviv, said the Israeli foreign ministry's director, Rafi Barak, had called the meetings.
"The Israelis informed us of their concerns" over the EU plan, he said. "I reminded them that the new guidelines were a continuation of European policy on settlements."
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said in a Friday statement that the guidelines simply "reiterates the long-held position that bilateral agreements with Israel do not cover the territory that came under Israel's administration in June 1967."
The preamble to the guidelines says that "the EU does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over... the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including east Jerusalem... and does not consider them to be part of Israel's territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic law".
The guidelines apply to "grants, prizes and financial instruments," it adds.
"Only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel's pre-1967 borders will be considered eligible as final recipients" of this kind of funding.
Of particular concern to officials was a scientific cooperation deal with the EU, "Horizon 2020", which would generate investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Israeli technology companies, Haaretz newspaper quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.
More than 80 percent of Israelis are opposed to the new EU guidelines, according to a survey published Friday by pro-government newspaper Israel Hayom.
Settlement building in the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War is illegal under international law.
18 july 2013
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A political analyst says the latest threat by the European Union (EU) to impose financial ban on Israeli organizations operating in the occupied West Bank will not really change anything on the ground and will not put pressure on Israel to stop its settlement expansion activities, Press TV reports.
In an exclusive interview with Press TV on Thursday, Abd al-Sattar Qassem -- professor of political science at An-Najah National University in the West Bank city of Nablus, stated that Europeans usually make certain statements about Israel’s settlement activities in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, but they hardly take any effective measures against the Israeli regime. |
Qassem further noted that the presence of powerful pro-Israeli lobbies in Europe and the US unwavering support for Israel prevent European states from adopting any practical anti-Israeli measure.
He said Europeans are divided on how to solve the Palestinian issue, arguing that Washington and Tel Aviv monopolize ideas and policies concerning relationship with Palestinians and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries because the territories were captured by Israel in a 1967 war and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
Israel agreed to freeze settlement construction under the Roadmap for Peace in 2002. But it has failed to comply with that commitment despite repeated and widespread international condemnation.
Not only has the presence and continued expansion of these settlements been a major source of international criticism against Israel, but they are also considered one of the main obstacles to Middle East peace.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
He said Europeans are divided on how to solve the Palestinian issue, arguing that Washington and Tel Aviv monopolize ideas and policies concerning relationship with Palestinians and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries because the territories were captured by Israel in a 1967 war and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
Israel agreed to freeze settlement construction under the Roadmap for Peace in 2002. But it has failed to comply with that commitment despite repeated and widespread international condemnation.
Not only has the presence and continued expansion of these settlements been a major source of international criticism against Israel, but they are also considered one of the main obstacles to Middle East peace.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Sponsorship deal between UAE airline, Transport for London forbids any future business dealings with Jewish state; mayor orders Tfl to remove clause
The Thames cable car line, which runs between London's Greenwich neighborhood and the Excel Center, has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city since it opened in June 2012 ahead of the Olympics. Now it has also become a symbol of hatred toward Israel.
The Emirates Air Line, also known as the Thames cable car, is considered a success partly because Emirates airlines provided $54.4 million of the project's more than $95 million construction and development costs. In exchange for the funding Emirates airlines, the United Arab Emirate's national airline, was named the sponsor of the cable car line.
But London’s main transportation agency has come under fire for the 10-year partnership deal with Emirates airlines because it excludes Israel from future business dealings.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that according to the 2011 contract, which was revealed by the online watchdog group MayorWatch through a Freedom of Information request, Transport for London agreed to abide by the UAE's foreign policy in the deal.
Under the terms of the contract, Transport for London will default on the agreement if it sells the cable car to a "conflicting person," defined as any competitor or "any person who is a national of, or who is registered, incorporated, established or whose principal place of business is in a country with which the UAE does not at the date of this Contract or at any relevant point during the Term maintain diplomatic relations."
Israel is the only country that falls into that category.
Transport for London would not be allowed to finance the project through Israel-based or Israeli-owned banks, nor would Israel be able to buy the cable cars from Transport for London.
Another clause in the contract forbids London Mayor Boris Johnson from criticizing the UAE. Johnson claimed he was not aware of these clauses, and following his intervention this week Emirates agreed to remove them and "re-work the wording," his spokesman said.
Zionist Federation chairman Paul Charney, who earlier in the week slammed the deal, welcomed the news, saying, "I would personally like to thank Sir Peter Hendy from TfL for urgently resolving this matter with Emirates Airlines. We must remain vigilant against any back-door attempts to boycott Israel in the UK." Amir Ofek, spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in London, said he was certain the "relevant British authorities will know how to handle the matter."
The Thames cable car line, which runs between London's Greenwich neighborhood and the Excel Center, has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city since it opened in June 2012 ahead of the Olympics. Now it has also become a symbol of hatred toward Israel.
The Emirates Air Line, also known as the Thames cable car, is considered a success partly because Emirates airlines provided $54.4 million of the project's more than $95 million construction and development costs. In exchange for the funding Emirates airlines, the United Arab Emirate's national airline, was named the sponsor of the cable car line.
But London’s main transportation agency has come under fire for the 10-year partnership deal with Emirates airlines because it excludes Israel from future business dealings.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that according to the 2011 contract, which was revealed by the online watchdog group MayorWatch through a Freedom of Information request, Transport for London agreed to abide by the UAE's foreign policy in the deal.
Under the terms of the contract, Transport for London will default on the agreement if it sells the cable car to a "conflicting person," defined as any competitor or "any person who is a national of, or who is registered, incorporated, established or whose principal place of business is in a country with which the UAE does not at the date of this Contract or at any relevant point during the Term maintain diplomatic relations."
Israel is the only country that falls into that category.
Transport for London would not be allowed to finance the project through Israel-based or Israeli-owned banks, nor would Israel be able to buy the cable cars from Transport for London.
Another clause in the contract forbids London Mayor Boris Johnson from criticizing the UAE. Johnson claimed he was not aware of these clauses, and following his intervention this week Emirates agreed to remove them and "re-work the wording," his spokesman said.
Zionist Federation chairman Paul Charney, who earlier in the week slammed the deal, welcomed the news, saying, "I would personally like to thank Sir Peter Hendy from TfL for urgently resolving this matter with Emirates Airlines. We must remain vigilant against any back-door attempts to boycott Israel in the UK." Amir Ofek, spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in London, said he was certain the "relevant British authorities will know how to handle the matter."
Israeli President Shimon Peres called on the EU Thursday to delay adopting settlement funding curbs as Palestinians and Israelis inch toward fresh peace talks.
"The coming days are critical," his office quoted him as saying in a statement. "Wait with your decision, give priority to peace."
The European Union is to publish new guidelines for its 28 member states on Friday that will block all funding of, or dealings with, Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in neighboring Jordan on his latest bid to revive direct negotiations between Israel and the PLO and warned that the EU was "damaging efforts to restart the talks".
Peres on Thursday said there were signs of progress in Kerry's shuttle diplomacy.
"From the latest information at my disposal, Secretary of State John Kerry has succeeded in advancing the chances of renewing peace talks," the statement quoted him as saying. "We are within touching distance."
"I appeal to our friends in Europe...do not lead a process of irresponsible sanctions which will torpedo diplomatic negotiations," he said.
The EU's office in Israel said on Thursday that Kerry, Peres and Netanyahu all called European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday night to discuss the guidelines.
It said in a statement that the EU is ready to negotiate with Israel regarding their planned entry into force from January 1 next year.
"Following a request from Israeli authorities the EU stands ready to engage in consultations on their implementation," it said.
"The coming days are critical," his office quoted him as saying in a statement. "Wait with your decision, give priority to peace."
The European Union is to publish new guidelines for its 28 member states on Friday that will block all funding of, or dealings with, Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in neighboring Jordan on his latest bid to revive direct negotiations between Israel and the PLO and warned that the EU was "damaging efforts to restart the talks".
Peres on Thursday said there were signs of progress in Kerry's shuttle diplomacy.
"From the latest information at my disposal, Secretary of State John Kerry has succeeded in advancing the chances of renewing peace talks," the statement quoted him as saying. "We are within touching distance."
"I appeal to our friends in Europe...do not lead a process of irresponsible sanctions which will torpedo diplomatic negotiations," he said.
The EU's office in Israel said on Thursday that Kerry, Peres and Netanyahu all called European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday night to discuss the guidelines.
It said in a statement that the EU is ready to negotiate with Israel regarding their planned entry into force from January 1 next year.
"Following a request from Israeli authorities the EU stands ready to engage in consultations on their implementation," it said.
New EU guidelines barring its 28 members from funding projects in settlements mean Israel must move towards resuming peace talks instead of stalling, or risk international isolation, officials and commentators say.
The guidelines forbid dealing with or funding Israeli entities that lie outside Israel proper and beyond the so-called 1967 Green Line -- that is, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights.
They also require any future signed agreements to recognize that these areas are not part of Israel.
This creates a dilemma for Israel over whether to continue occupying the West Bank and risk damaging its relations with the international community -- not to mention its trade prospects -- or to comply fully.
And compliance would by default mean a move towards negotiating a peace with the Palestinians, commentators and officials said on Wednesday.
Justice minister and chief peace negotiator Tzipi Livni, who warned earlier this month that the European Union would begin boycotting Israel if there was no progress on peace efforts, said the guidelines were a clear warning.
"The policy of stagnation on the Palestinian issue is creating a void the international community is trying to fill," she told public radio.
"I hope this constitutes a warning signal that will lead to a resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians."
Opposition and Labor party leader Shelly Yachimovich told public radio Israel faced "international isolation" by trying to maintain the status quo on the Palestinian issue.
And the effects of the new guidelines, which are to be implemented from January 2014, could include the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for Israel, media said.
Haaretz newspaper said the "moment of truth" was approaching for Israel's peace talks policy.
"Israel's government needs to decide if it is ready to continue to endanger the country's future for the sake of continuing the occupation," it warned.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he called "external dictates on our borders."
He also said the Europeans appeared to have a distorted sense of priorities, saying in a statement that the settlement and Palestinian issues were not as urgent as "the Syrian civil war or Iran's race to obtain nuclear weapons."
Many in the cabinet also railed against the EU guidelines, with ministers in Netanyahu's Likud party saying the initiative would undermine efforts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to bring about a resumption of peace talks, which have stalled since 2010.
"Nothing good will come of this decision, certainly not regarding talks with the Palestinians, who will use it as a pretext not to come to the negotiating table," said Communications Minister Gilan Erdan.
"It's a decision void of any logic whilst Kerry tries to restart talks," he told public radio.
But Yediot Aharonot newspaper insisted, in a Wednesday editorial, that Netanyahu must move to resume peace talks, and stop stalling.
"The tangle that is now coming to light with Europe requires Netanyahu to make decisions of historic dimensions," it said.
The Palestinians, meanwhile, have welcomed the guidelines, with both foreign minister Riyad al-Malki and Gaza rulers Hamas on Wednesday praising the EU decision.
"This hugely helps the Palestinians and their position. It is a very important message for us... we welcome this step," Malki said in a newspaper interview.
And an official Hamas statement praised the decision, saying it is "a step in the right direction and pressures the occupation.
The guidelines forbid dealing with or funding Israeli entities that lie outside Israel proper and beyond the so-called 1967 Green Line -- that is, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights.
They also require any future signed agreements to recognize that these areas are not part of Israel.
This creates a dilemma for Israel over whether to continue occupying the West Bank and risk damaging its relations with the international community -- not to mention its trade prospects -- or to comply fully.
And compliance would by default mean a move towards negotiating a peace with the Palestinians, commentators and officials said on Wednesday.
Justice minister and chief peace negotiator Tzipi Livni, who warned earlier this month that the European Union would begin boycotting Israel if there was no progress on peace efforts, said the guidelines were a clear warning.
"The policy of stagnation on the Palestinian issue is creating a void the international community is trying to fill," she told public radio.
"I hope this constitutes a warning signal that will lead to a resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians."
Opposition and Labor party leader Shelly Yachimovich told public radio Israel faced "international isolation" by trying to maintain the status quo on the Palestinian issue.
And the effects of the new guidelines, which are to be implemented from January 2014, could include the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for Israel, media said.
Haaretz newspaper said the "moment of truth" was approaching for Israel's peace talks policy.
"Israel's government needs to decide if it is ready to continue to endanger the country's future for the sake of continuing the occupation," it warned.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he called "external dictates on our borders."
He also said the Europeans appeared to have a distorted sense of priorities, saying in a statement that the settlement and Palestinian issues were not as urgent as "the Syrian civil war or Iran's race to obtain nuclear weapons."
Many in the cabinet also railed against the EU guidelines, with ministers in Netanyahu's Likud party saying the initiative would undermine efforts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to bring about a resumption of peace talks, which have stalled since 2010.
"Nothing good will come of this decision, certainly not regarding talks with the Palestinians, who will use it as a pretext not to come to the negotiating table," said Communications Minister Gilan Erdan.
"It's a decision void of any logic whilst Kerry tries to restart talks," he told public radio.
But Yediot Aharonot newspaper insisted, in a Wednesday editorial, that Netanyahu must move to resume peace talks, and stop stalling.
"The tangle that is now coming to light with Europe requires Netanyahu to make decisions of historic dimensions," it said.
The Palestinians, meanwhile, have welcomed the guidelines, with both foreign minister Riyad al-Malki and Gaza rulers Hamas on Wednesday praising the EU decision.
"This hugely helps the Palestinians and their position. It is a very important message for us... we welcome this step," Malki said in a newspaper interview.
And an official Hamas statement praised the decision, saying it is "a step in the right direction and pressures the occupation.
PLO Negotiations Affairs Department distributed on Wednesday, a Fact Sheet prepared for a visiting EU Parliamentarian Delegation in May 2013. It is entitled "EU Trade with Israeli Settlements":
The transfer by an Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a grave breach of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention and violates the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Such acts are war crimes under international law. Yet this has been the policy of the Government of the State of Israel since the beginning of its occupation in 1967. Forty-six years later, the Israeli settlement enterprise in the Occupied State of Palestine is a profitable undertaking based on the theft and colonization of Palestinian land and natural resources with seemingly no political, legal, or diplomatic cost for Israel. This must change.
The European Union (EU) is Israel's largest import and export market. In 2011, trade between Israel and the EU amounted to €29.4 billion (USD 38.7 billion), of which €12.6 billion (USD 16.6 billion) came from Israeli exports. These figures include trade with Israeli settlements, all of which are illegal according to international law. While official import and export statistics do not reveal the exact volume of exports from the Israeli settlements to the EU, the most recent estimated value is €229 million (USD 300 million) per year.
Agricultural products, mostly grown in the Jordan Valley, are one of the main exports of Israeli settlements. Fresh fruits, such as grapes and dates, as well as vegetables, make up a high proportion of the settlement goods exported to the EU. For example, more than 80% of dates and approximately 70% of grapes produced by the illegal Jordan Valley settlements are directed for export.
The EU – Israel Association Agreement, which gives Israel a number of trade benefits, but from which Israeli settlements are supposed to be excluded due to the fact they are situated illegally in the occupied State of Palestine, is conditioned upon progress in the Peace Process and Israel's respect of human rights norms. Israel is in blatant violation of these conditions but faces no consequences beyond condemnatory statements.
In fact, in 2012, despite Israel's ongoing settlement construction, the EU-Israel Association Council, one of two bodies established to monitor the implementation of the Association agreement, approved 60 concrete activities in over 15 specific fields, including cooperation with a number of EU agencies.
CONTINUE READING THE FACT SHEET
The transfer by an Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a grave breach of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention and violates the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Such acts are war crimes under international law. Yet this has been the policy of the Government of the State of Israel since the beginning of its occupation in 1967. Forty-six years later, the Israeli settlement enterprise in the Occupied State of Palestine is a profitable undertaking based on the theft and colonization of Palestinian land and natural resources with seemingly no political, legal, or diplomatic cost for Israel. This must change.
The European Union (EU) is Israel's largest import and export market. In 2011, trade between Israel and the EU amounted to €29.4 billion (USD 38.7 billion), of which €12.6 billion (USD 16.6 billion) came from Israeli exports. These figures include trade with Israeli settlements, all of which are illegal according to international law. While official import and export statistics do not reveal the exact volume of exports from the Israeli settlements to the EU, the most recent estimated value is €229 million (USD 300 million) per year.
Agricultural products, mostly grown in the Jordan Valley, are one of the main exports of Israeli settlements. Fresh fruits, such as grapes and dates, as well as vegetables, make up a high proportion of the settlement goods exported to the EU. For example, more than 80% of dates and approximately 70% of grapes produced by the illegal Jordan Valley settlements are directed for export.
The EU – Israel Association Agreement, which gives Israel a number of trade benefits, but from which Israeli settlements are supposed to be excluded due to the fact they are situated illegally in the occupied State of Palestine, is conditioned upon progress in the Peace Process and Israel's respect of human rights norms. Israel is in blatant violation of these conditions but faces no consequences beyond condemnatory statements.
In fact, in 2012, despite Israel's ongoing settlement construction, the EU-Israel Association Council, one of two bodies established to monitor the implementation of the Association agreement, approved 60 concrete activities in over 15 specific fields, including cooperation with a number of EU agencies.
CONTINUE READING THE FACT SHEET
17 july 2013
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JFK Airport in New York. Israelis not allowed to buy ticket for Saudi Arabian Airlines
New York Post reveals Saudi Arabian Airlines won't allow Israeli citizens to book tickets for flights from American airports VIDEO – Saudi Arabian Airlines has been accused of discriminating against Israeli citizens after it was revealed in the New York Post that the company refuses to allow Israelis to book tickets for flights from American airports. When booking tickets from the company’s website, users are required to indicate their nationality. Conspicuously absent from the list of options is Israel. |
According to the newspaper, New York politician Bill de Blasio tried calling the airline to buy a ticket using Israeli nationality, but was refused by the company’s staff.
De Blasio says the company is breaking US law, which stipulates that an airline operating in the country cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry.
“No city in the world has closer ties to Israel than we do, and yet Israeli citizens are being discriminated against right here at JFK. It’s not only illegal; it’s an affront to who we are,” he said. “We won’t stop with just exposing these practices. We’ll pursue this with authorities in Albany and in Washington until Israeli nationals’ rights are respected,” he added.
According to the New York Post, when a member of de Blasio’s staff called the airline pretending to be an Israeli citizen trying to fly from JFK to Mumbai, India, he was told he could not fly with the airline.
“Since you have Israeli nationality, you will not be allowed to go on Saudi Airlines,” the agent said.
De Blasio says the company is breaking US law, which stipulates that an airline operating in the country cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry.
“No city in the world has closer ties to Israel than we do, and yet Israeli citizens are being discriminated against right here at JFK. It’s not only illegal; it’s an affront to who we are,” he said. “We won’t stop with just exposing these practices. We’ll pursue this with authorities in Albany and in Washington until Israeli nationals’ rights are respected,” he added.
According to the New York Post, when a member of de Blasio’s staff called the airline pretending to be an Israeli citizen trying to fly from JFK to Mumbai, India, he was told he could not fly with the airline.
“Since you have Israeli nationality, you will not be allowed to go on Saudi Airlines,” the agent said.
The European Union (EU) Tuesday said that they will bar all 28 member states from dealings with the jewish zionists settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank, including the occupied east of Jerusalem. The EU defined the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 as the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The directive, due to be published on Friday and take effect from 2014, forbids EU member states from funding or dealing with Israeli settlements and settlers in the occupied territories. The aim of the guidelines, is to ensure the respect of EU positions and commitments in conformity with international law on the non-recognition by the EU of Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967.
The EU does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over any of these territories and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, ‘irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law,’ it said. It has also made it clear that it will not recognize any changes to pre-1967 borders, other than those agreed by the parties to the Middle East peace process.
Statement by the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel on the European Commission Notice (16/07/2013)
Statement by the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel on the European Commission Notice – On June 30 European Commission adopted a Notice containing guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards. These guidelines set out the territorial limitations under which the Commission will award EU support to Israeli entities
These guidelines were prepared as a follow up to the political decision taken by the foreign ministers of the EU Member States at the EU Foreign Affairs Council of 10 December 2012. This stated that, “all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”
The guidelines are also in conformity with the EU’s longstanding position that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and with the non-recognition by the EU of Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied territories, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law.
At the moment Israeli entities enjoy financial support and cooperation with the EU and these guidelines are designed to ensure that this remains the case. At the same time concern has been expressed in Europe that Israeli entities in the occupied territories could benefit from EU support.
The purpose of these guidelines is to make a distinction between the State of Israel and the occupied territories when it comes to EU support.
The European External Action Service has informed the Israeli Mission to the EU prior to the publication of the notice and has invited the Israeli side to hold discussions on the agreements which are in preparation.
The directive, due to be published on Friday and take effect from 2014, forbids EU member states from funding or dealing with Israeli settlements and settlers in the occupied territories. The aim of the guidelines, is to ensure the respect of EU positions and commitments in conformity with international law on the non-recognition by the EU of Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967.
The EU does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over any of these territories and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, ‘irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law,’ it said. It has also made it clear that it will not recognize any changes to pre-1967 borders, other than those agreed by the parties to the Middle East peace process.
Statement by the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel on the European Commission Notice (16/07/2013)
Statement by the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel on the European Commission Notice – On June 30 European Commission adopted a Notice containing guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards. These guidelines set out the territorial limitations under which the Commission will award EU support to Israeli entities
These guidelines were prepared as a follow up to the political decision taken by the foreign ministers of the EU Member States at the EU Foreign Affairs Council of 10 December 2012. This stated that, “all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”
The guidelines are also in conformity with the EU’s longstanding position that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and with the non-recognition by the EU of Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied territories, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law.
At the moment Israeli entities enjoy financial support and cooperation with the EU and these guidelines are designed to ensure that this remains the case. At the same time concern has been expressed in Europe that Israeli entities in the occupied territories could benefit from EU support.
The purpose of these guidelines is to make a distinction between the State of Israel and the occupied territories when it comes to EU support.
The European External Action Service has informed the Israeli Mission to the EU prior to the publication of the notice and has invited the Israeli side to hold discussions on the agreements which are in preparation.
On Day Of Shareholder Meeting
July 17, Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, July 16th at TIAA-CREF offices in over a dozen cities nationwide, human rights advocates protested the retirement giant’s investments in Israeli military occupation, on the same day that TIAA-CREF held its annual shareholders meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The protesters sang, chanted, handed out thousands of flyers, and performed street theater, also signaling their displeasure with TIAA-CREF’s refusal to allow investors to vote to vote on a shareholder resolution, which calls on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies such as Veolia, Caterpillar, and Northrup Grumman which profit from segregated services, home demolitions, militarized violence, and other human rights abuses.
The protests, organized by the national We Divest campaign, come as the international campaign to boycott companies operating in Israel’s illegal settlements is gaining mainstream traction. On Tuesday the EU announced new measures focusing on Israeli settlements.
On Monday We Divest announced that TIAA-CREF had dropped its investment in the Israeli settlement company SodaStream, a target of the We Divest campaign. In 2012, the policy-making bodies of the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church USA each voted to boycott products made in Israeli settlements.
“It is becoming increasingly controversial, if not downright shameful, to be in any way associated with products made in illegal settlements in occupied territory,” said Sydney Levy of the We Divest Campaign. “No matter TIAA-CREF’s motivations to drop SodaStream, it was the right decision for a company claiming to provide ‘financial services for the greater good.’”
In Cambridge, over 90 protesters marched from Harvard Square to the Cambridge office of TIAA-CREF. Two shareholders - professors at local universities - were not allowed into the TCREF office to deliver a letter.
As 40 protesters and passersby looked on outside the Manhattan office of TCREF, three suit-clad mimes sporting TIAA-CREF logos held their hands over their eyes, ears and mouth, parodying TIAA-CREF’s reluctance to act on Israeli human rights abuses and rejection of the shareholder resolution.
In San Francisco, over 40 people from diverse groups gave speeches and sang and chanted to the accompaniment of a ukulele in front of TCREF offices on Mission Street.
Outside the TCREF office in Denver 25 people chanted to the beat of drums and sang "This Plan is my Plan", before marching around a section of downtown. In Los Angeles, 15 people held signs and passed out flyers about TIAA-CREF and the We Divest campaign out side TCREF’s LA Office.
Protests were also held outside TCREF offices in Baltimore, Ann Arbor, Ithaca, Chicago and Sacramento. On Sunday, at the Columbia Heights Mall in Washington, DC, about 25 activists sang, chanted, held signs, and passed out flyers to educate the public regarding TIAA-CREF’s investments in Israel.
The TIAA-CREF annual meeting on Tuesday did not include a vote on a resolution submitted by over 200 TIAA-CREF shareholders, calling on the pension fund giant to divest from companies involved in egregious human rights violations, including those companies whose products are used by the Israeli military to commit grave and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians, and to enforce Israel’s 46-year-old military occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands.
This is the second time that TIAA-CREF officials have refused to allow investors to vote on the shareholder resolution calling on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies supporting Israeli military occupation.
We Divest campaign activists and shareholders attended the meeting and challenged CREF leadership on their decision to invest in Occupation. TIAA-CREF leadership maintained they don’t take a position on this issue, while continuing to taut their commitment to socially responsible investing.
In 2012, TIAA-CREF dropped Caterpillar, Inc., a company targeted by We Divest, from its Social Choice fund. Caterpillar’s bulldozers have been used for countless and egregious Israeli human rights violations in occupied Palestinian Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
In that case, TIAA-CREF’s decision was based on the downgrading of Caterpillar stock by ethical investment ratings agency MSCI, which said in a statement that one of the “key factors” in Caterpillar’s downgrading was "on-going controversy associated with use of the company’s equipment in the occupied Palestinian territories."
-- TIAA-CREFF Financial Services invests Retirement Plans, IRAs, Mutual Funds and Life Insurance
Americans Push for Divestment from Pro-Occupation Companies
Americans demonstrated this week in over a dozen cities throughout the United States demanding that the retirement giant TIAA-CREF divest from companies supporting the illegal Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian Territory, a press statement by the national We Divest campaign, said Wednesday. The protests, organized by We Divest, came while TIAA-CREF held its annual shareholders’ meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday.
The protesters said they were not happy with TIAA-CREF’s refusal to allow investors to vote on a shareholder resolution, which calls on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies such as Veolia, Caterpillar, and Northrup Grumman which profit from segregated services, home demolitions, militarized violence, and other human rights abuses.
We Divest had earlier announced that TIAA-CREF had dropped its investment in the Israeli settlement company SodaStream. In 2012, TIAA-CREF dropped Caterpillar, Inc., a company targeted by We Divest, from its Social Choice fund after it was decided that Israel has been using company bulldozers for countless and egregious Israeli human rights violations in occupied Palestinian Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
“It is becoming increasingly controversial, if not downright shameful, to be in any way associated with products made in illegal settlements in occupied territory,” said Sydney Levy of the We Divest Campaign. “No matter TIAA-CREF’s motivations to drop SodaStream, it was the right decision for a company claiming to provide ‘financial services for the greater good.’”
July 17, Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, July 16th at TIAA-CREF offices in over a dozen cities nationwide, human rights advocates protested the retirement giant’s investments in Israeli military occupation, on the same day that TIAA-CREF held its annual shareholders meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The protesters sang, chanted, handed out thousands of flyers, and performed street theater, also signaling their displeasure with TIAA-CREF’s refusal to allow investors to vote to vote on a shareholder resolution, which calls on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies such as Veolia, Caterpillar, and Northrup Grumman which profit from segregated services, home demolitions, militarized violence, and other human rights abuses.
The protests, organized by the national We Divest campaign, come as the international campaign to boycott companies operating in Israel’s illegal settlements is gaining mainstream traction. On Tuesday the EU announced new measures focusing on Israeli settlements.
On Monday We Divest announced that TIAA-CREF had dropped its investment in the Israeli settlement company SodaStream, a target of the We Divest campaign. In 2012, the policy-making bodies of the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church USA each voted to boycott products made in Israeli settlements.
“It is becoming increasingly controversial, if not downright shameful, to be in any way associated with products made in illegal settlements in occupied territory,” said Sydney Levy of the We Divest Campaign. “No matter TIAA-CREF’s motivations to drop SodaStream, it was the right decision for a company claiming to provide ‘financial services for the greater good.’”
In Cambridge, over 90 protesters marched from Harvard Square to the Cambridge office of TIAA-CREF. Two shareholders - professors at local universities - were not allowed into the TCREF office to deliver a letter.
As 40 protesters and passersby looked on outside the Manhattan office of TCREF, three suit-clad mimes sporting TIAA-CREF logos held their hands over their eyes, ears and mouth, parodying TIAA-CREF’s reluctance to act on Israeli human rights abuses and rejection of the shareholder resolution.
In San Francisco, over 40 people from diverse groups gave speeches and sang and chanted to the accompaniment of a ukulele in front of TCREF offices on Mission Street.
Outside the TCREF office in Denver 25 people chanted to the beat of drums and sang "This Plan is my Plan", before marching around a section of downtown. In Los Angeles, 15 people held signs and passed out flyers about TIAA-CREF and the We Divest campaign out side TCREF’s LA Office.
Protests were also held outside TCREF offices in Baltimore, Ann Arbor, Ithaca, Chicago and Sacramento. On Sunday, at the Columbia Heights Mall in Washington, DC, about 25 activists sang, chanted, held signs, and passed out flyers to educate the public regarding TIAA-CREF’s investments in Israel.
The TIAA-CREF annual meeting on Tuesday did not include a vote on a resolution submitted by over 200 TIAA-CREF shareholders, calling on the pension fund giant to divest from companies involved in egregious human rights violations, including those companies whose products are used by the Israeli military to commit grave and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians, and to enforce Israel’s 46-year-old military occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands.
This is the second time that TIAA-CREF officials have refused to allow investors to vote on the shareholder resolution calling on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies supporting Israeli military occupation.
We Divest campaign activists and shareholders attended the meeting and challenged CREF leadership on their decision to invest in Occupation. TIAA-CREF leadership maintained they don’t take a position on this issue, while continuing to taut their commitment to socially responsible investing.
In 2012, TIAA-CREF dropped Caterpillar, Inc., a company targeted by We Divest, from its Social Choice fund. Caterpillar’s bulldozers have been used for countless and egregious Israeli human rights violations in occupied Palestinian Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
In that case, TIAA-CREF’s decision was based on the downgrading of Caterpillar stock by ethical investment ratings agency MSCI, which said in a statement that one of the “key factors” in Caterpillar’s downgrading was "on-going controversy associated with use of the company’s equipment in the occupied Palestinian territories."
-- TIAA-CREFF Financial Services invests Retirement Plans, IRAs, Mutual Funds and Life Insurance
Americans Push for Divestment from Pro-Occupation Companies
Americans demonstrated this week in over a dozen cities throughout the United States demanding that the retirement giant TIAA-CREF divest from companies supporting the illegal Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian Territory, a press statement by the national We Divest campaign, said Wednesday. The protests, organized by We Divest, came while TIAA-CREF held its annual shareholders’ meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday.
The protesters said they were not happy with TIAA-CREF’s refusal to allow investors to vote on a shareholder resolution, which calls on TIAA-CREF to divest from companies such as Veolia, Caterpillar, and Northrup Grumman which profit from segregated services, home demolitions, militarized violence, and other human rights abuses.
We Divest had earlier announced that TIAA-CREF had dropped its investment in the Israeli settlement company SodaStream. In 2012, TIAA-CREF dropped Caterpillar, Inc., a company targeted by We Divest, from its Social Choice fund after it was decided that Israel has been using company bulldozers for countless and egregious Israeli human rights violations in occupied Palestinian Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
“It is becoming increasingly controversial, if not downright shameful, to be in any way associated with products made in illegal settlements in occupied territory,” said Sydney Levy of the We Divest Campaign. “No matter TIAA-CREF’s motivations to drop SodaStream, it was the right decision for a company claiming to provide ‘financial services for the greater good.’”
Laborers work on a housing construction site in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa in al-Quds.
The European Union (EU) has issued a directive requiring Israel to acknowledge the occupation of settlements in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the move will forbid the issuance of grants, funding, prizes or scholarships unless a settlement exclusion clause is included.
The directive is reportedly part of the 2014-20 financial frameworks which incorporate all sectors of cooperation between the EU and Israel, including economics, science, culture, sports and academia.
In reaction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will not accept any external diktats about our borders.”
After the release of the statement, an emergency meeting was organized in the office of the prime minister where Ze'ev Elkin, Israel's rightwing deputy foreign minister, and other ministers called for a strict reaction, an ultimatum to Europe and the suspension of all relations with the EU.
It was finally decided that Netanyahu contact EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton to ask her to delay the official announcement of the decision.
A senior Israeli foreign ministry official said that Netanyahu would have told Ashton that in case of the promulgation of the directive he would face internal pressure not to give any concessions to the Palestinian side, driving peace talks to impasse.
The Tel Aviv regime continues expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
On June 26, Israel approved final plans to construct nearly 70 new settler units in East al-Quds.
The units will be built in Har Homa, an illegal settlement neighborhood in the southern sector of the city.
The settlements are considered illegal by the international community because the territories were captured by Israel and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied land.
The continued expansion of the Israeli settlements has also created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
The European Union (EU) has issued a directive requiring Israel to acknowledge the occupation of settlements in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
According to a statement released on Tuesday, the move will forbid the issuance of grants, funding, prizes or scholarships unless a settlement exclusion clause is included.
The directive is reportedly part of the 2014-20 financial frameworks which incorporate all sectors of cooperation between the EU and Israel, including economics, science, culture, sports and academia.
In reaction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will not accept any external diktats about our borders.”
After the release of the statement, an emergency meeting was organized in the office of the prime minister where Ze'ev Elkin, Israel's rightwing deputy foreign minister, and other ministers called for a strict reaction, an ultimatum to Europe and the suspension of all relations with the EU.
It was finally decided that Netanyahu contact EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton to ask her to delay the official announcement of the decision.
A senior Israeli foreign ministry official said that Netanyahu would have told Ashton that in case of the promulgation of the directive he would face internal pressure not to give any concessions to the Palestinian side, driving peace talks to impasse.
The Tel Aviv regime continues expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
On June 26, Israel approved final plans to construct nearly 70 new settler units in East al-Quds.
The units will be built in Har Homa, an illegal settlement neighborhood in the southern sector of the city.
The settlements are considered illegal by the international community because the territories were captured by Israel and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied land.
The continued expansion of the Israeli settlements has also created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
A housing construction site in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa is pictured in East Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday rejected European Union guidelines barring the bloc's 28 member states from funding projects in Jewish settlements.
"We shall not accept any external dictates on our borders," his office quoted him as telling an emergency ministerial meeting. "That is an issue that will be decided only in direct negotiations between the sides."
Netanyahu convened his justice and trade ministers and his deputy foreign minister after the EU revealed the guidelines, which will affect all EU grants, prizes and funding from 2014 onwards, with no further funding available to Israeli entities beyond the 1967 Green Line.
Netanyahu said the Europeans appeared to have a distorted sense of priorities.
"I would expect those who concern themselves with peace and stability in the region to only debate such an issue after resolving problems which are slightly more urgent, such as the Syrian civil war or Iran's race to obtain nuclear weapons," the statement from his office said.
A senior Israeli official said that the EU move was likely to prove a stumbling block to US Secretary of State John Kerry's diplomatic effort to revive stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
"Some in Europe seem to be determined to undermine this effort and to undermine the chance of returning to direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks," he told AFP. "Why would any Palestinian leader enter negotiations when they receive what they want without negotiation?".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday rejected European Union guidelines barring the bloc's 28 member states from funding projects in Jewish settlements.
"We shall not accept any external dictates on our borders," his office quoted him as telling an emergency ministerial meeting. "That is an issue that will be decided only in direct negotiations between the sides."
Netanyahu convened his justice and trade ministers and his deputy foreign minister after the EU revealed the guidelines, which will affect all EU grants, prizes and funding from 2014 onwards, with no further funding available to Israeli entities beyond the 1967 Green Line.
Netanyahu said the Europeans appeared to have a distorted sense of priorities.
"I would expect those who concern themselves with peace and stability in the region to only debate such an issue after resolving problems which are slightly more urgent, such as the Syrian civil war or Iran's race to obtain nuclear weapons," the statement from his office said.
A senior Israeli official said that the EU move was likely to prove a stumbling block to US Secretary of State John Kerry's diplomatic effort to revive stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
"Some in Europe seem to be determined to undermine this effort and to undermine the chance of returning to direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks," he told AFP. "Why would any Palestinian leader enter negotiations when they receive what they want without negotiation?".
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) welcomes news of new EU guidelines excluding illegal Israeli settlements from EU and member state agreements, PSC said in a press statement. The EU has taken action to limit financial cooperation with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
According to press reports, the guidelines set out that cooperation and contracts between the EU, member states and Israel must explicitly exclude Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcomed Sarah Colborne, stated:
"Repeated statements from the EU condemning Israel's settlement building, and restating their illegality, have simply been thrown into the wastepaper bin by Israeli officials."
Palestine Solidarity Campaign has campaigned for years for the European Union to turn their words into policy actions. A year ago last summer, thousands of our members and supporters wrote to their MEPs demanding that EU programmes stop benefiting Israeli businesses which operate illegally in occupied Palestinian territory.
For example, Ahava – an Israeli company which illegally exploits Palestinian resources – has benefited from EU research funding.
In January this year PSC members and supporters sent thousands more letters to Catherine Ashton and William Hague, pressing them to ban all financial transactions that support the illegal settlements. It appears that the EU has gone some way into meeting those demands.
For too long the European Union has been all talk and no action. We've seen countless statements condemning Israeli settlement expansion as illegal, but then continued financial cooperation at both state and EU level which has financially benefited illegal Israeli settlements, added PSC.
This guidance is a welcome step, but needs to go much further. It is essential that this is guidance is binding, rather than advisory.
Companies should be excluded from receiving EU and member state public funding if they operate in the occupied Palestinian territory – not only if they are based there. It is also contradictory to the guidelines if the EU allows continued interaction with Israeli Government ministries which are illegally sited in occupied East Jerusalem.
PSC said they will wait for the full guidance to be published and carefully study the ramifications. But on the face of it this is a very important development – the first time the EU has turned their words of censure against Israel's colonisation of Palestinian land into tangible action which goes some small way to discourage Israel from continued settlement growth.
However, more action will be needed to halt and begin to reverse Israel's colonisation of Palestinian land. PSC is calling for the British government, and the EU, to adopt a clear approach of no more 'business as usual' with Israel until it complies with international law and basic principles of human rights.
PSC concluded, companies such as the Cooperative have already taken important steps, and have a clear ethical policy of refusing to use suppliers which source from the illegal settlements. And given that both the EU and the British government repeatedly have accepted that settlements are illegal under international law, they should ban goods grown, made or packed in those settlements."
According to press reports, the guidelines set out that cooperation and contracts between the EU, member states and Israel must explicitly exclude Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcomed Sarah Colborne, stated:
"Repeated statements from the EU condemning Israel's settlement building, and restating their illegality, have simply been thrown into the wastepaper bin by Israeli officials."
Palestine Solidarity Campaign has campaigned for years for the European Union to turn their words into policy actions. A year ago last summer, thousands of our members and supporters wrote to their MEPs demanding that EU programmes stop benefiting Israeli businesses which operate illegally in occupied Palestinian territory.
For example, Ahava – an Israeli company which illegally exploits Palestinian resources – has benefited from EU research funding.
In January this year PSC members and supporters sent thousands more letters to Catherine Ashton and William Hague, pressing them to ban all financial transactions that support the illegal settlements. It appears that the EU has gone some way into meeting those demands.
For too long the European Union has been all talk and no action. We've seen countless statements condemning Israeli settlement expansion as illegal, but then continued financial cooperation at both state and EU level which has financially benefited illegal Israeli settlements, added PSC.
This guidance is a welcome step, but needs to go much further. It is essential that this is guidance is binding, rather than advisory.
Companies should be excluded from receiving EU and member state public funding if they operate in the occupied Palestinian territory – not only if they are based there. It is also contradictory to the guidelines if the EU allows continued interaction with Israeli Government ministries which are illegally sited in occupied East Jerusalem.
PSC said they will wait for the full guidance to be published and carefully study the ramifications. But on the face of it this is a very important development – the first time the EU has turned their words of censure against Israel's colonisation of Palestinian land into tangible action which goes some small way to discourage Israel from continued settlement growth.
However, more action will be needed to halt and begin to reverse Israel's colonisation of Palestinian land. PSC is calling for the British government, and the EU, to adopt a clear approach of no more 'business as usual' with Israel until it complies with international law and basic principles of human rights.
PSC concluded, companies such as the Cooperative have already taken important steps, and have a clear ethical policy of refusing to use suppliers which source from the illegal settlements. And given that both the EU and the British government repeatedly have accepted that settlements are illegal under international law, they should ban goods grown, made or packed in those settlements."
Like a bucket of cold water poured on the head of a drunk, so the EU's decision reminded the power drunk government of Israeli of the reality in which we live," said Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Bloc. "From now on, should the government seek to sign agreements and maintain relations with the EU and its member countries, it will have to note officially that the agreement does not apply to the settlements nor to East Jerusalem."
In a press statement issued Tuesday, Gush Shalom continued, "Already for forty-six years, the State of Israel is maintaining by force of arms an occupation of the West Bank, amounting to more than seventy percent of the Israel's total history - yet nobody regards these territories as part of Israel (nor are they such under Israel's own laws). For forty-six years, successive governments are grabbing Palestinian land and constructing settlements on it, devoting an enormous part of the country's resources to this enterprise – yet nobody in the world accepts these accomplished facts. For forty-six years, the State of Israel claims East Jerusalem as part of its capital city - and nobody in the world recognizes it as such (and Israel itself treats the inhabitants of East Jerusalem as an occupied population)."
"The EU has started to confront the government of Israel – and every citizen of Israel - with a road sign that cannot be ignored. One path leads to peace with our Palestinian neighbors and the Arab countries, and to enjoying international esteem and sympathy. The other path - to war and more war, to being an international pariah. The time to choose between these two paths is running out," Gush Shalom concluded.
In a press statement issued Tuesday, Gush Shalom continued, "Already for forty-six years, the State of Israel is maintaining by force of arms an occupation of the West Bank, amounting to more than seventy percent of the Israel's total history - yet nobody regards these territories as part of Israel (nor are they such under Israel's own laws). For forty-six years, successive governments are grabbing Palestinian land and constructing settlements on it, devoting an enormous part of the country's resources to this enterprise – yet nobody in the world accepts these accomplished facts. For forty-six years, the State of Israel claims East Jerusalem as part of its capital city - and nobody in the world recognizes it as such (and Israel itself treats the inhabitants of East Jerusalem as an occupied population)."
"The EU has started to confront the government of Israel – and every citizen of Israel - with a road sign that cannot be ignored. One path leads to peace with our Palestinian neighbors and the Arab countries, and to enjoying international esteem and sympathy. The other path - to war and more war, to being an international pariah. The time to choose between these two paths is running out," Gush Shalom concluded.
16 july 2013
Laborers work at a housing construction site in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa in al-Quds on February 27, 2013
EU settlement directive angers Israel
The Israeli regime is angered by the European Union’s new directive that bans the EU's dealing with Israeli settlements built beyond 1967 borders.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Zeev Elkin said on Tuesday that the EU decision was “very significant and worrying.”
The new measure demands Israeli authorities to guarantee that all EU funding and cooperation projects are not in al-Quds (east Jerusalem), the West Bank or Golan Heights, as the territories were captured by the Tel Aviv regime during 1967 war.
The directive is expected to take effect as of 2014.
Elkin said the decision would undermine attempts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to begin peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Reports say that the new directive was drawn up as a result of the decision by European foreign ministers last December, which stated that all agreements between the EU and Israel “must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”
The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member observer state on November 29, 2012.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. Much of the international community considers the settlements illegal.
Last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel’s plan to build more than 1,000 new illegal units in the occupied West Bank.
Ya'alon on EU decision: Will continue same policy in Judea, Samaria
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel. "It is not new that many countries in the world refer to Judea and Samaria as occupied territory, and according to this they act," said Ya’alon.
"We have our policies and will continue to abide by and according to our interests," he added.
Yachimovich: Unfortunate that EU focuses on bans instead of on negotiation
Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel, saying that "the increasing diplomatic isolation is causing harm to the country and the market and poses a strategic threat no less than do sophisticated weapons aimed at us.
" "Nevertheless," Yachimovich added, "it is very unfortunate that instead of supporting and helping the Americans efforts to resume negotiation, the European Union focuses on sanctions and bans."
Lapid: EU decision sabotages Kerry's efforts for peace
Finance Minister Yair Lapid responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel, saying "this decision is another in a long line of decisions that isolate Israel." He added that "every day that Israel does not engage in peace talks is a day in which our international status sustains more damage.
Nevertheless, this is a miserable decision, which was made in very bad timing and sabotages the efforts that US Secretary of State is putting into bringing the sides to negotiation.
EU sanctions keep Israel guessing
In a surprise last-minute move, the European Union has set forth a strong set of economic sanctions against Israel, leaving that nation both surprised and reeling.
The sanctions, stimulated by what the EU refers to as “Israeli intransigence” regarding peace talks with the Palestinians, cover all financial dealings, loans, awards, transfer of “instruments” and severely limiting economic cooperation between Israel and all EU member nations starting in 2014.
The sanctions are against any Israeli “economic activity,” not just within what has been referred to as the “occupied territories” but broad areas of Israel that had been designated for the establishment of an “Arab State” in 1949. Those territories extend in an almost contiguous line from the Lebanon border to the Red Sea.
Israel has referred to these territories as “Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.” The term “Judea” alone could refer to the entire Roman province including large regions of Lebanon and Jordan.
Thus, one might question why the European Union would include such broad territories, clearly intended to offset Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s demands for “defensible borders.”
The EU has gone much further than imagined, an act Israel sees as an “ambush.”
Israeli response
Israel has responded with a number of objections citing, initially that they feel the “EU attacks us because we are small,” as cited by Gil Ronen with Arutz Sheva, Israel National News.
The sanctions, to be published Friday, July 19, 2013, will prohibit all 28 European Union member states from any economic contacts with Israeli “entities” that operate outside the 1949 Armistice lines.
These territories differ greatly from the ceasefire lines of the 1967 war and include up to 25% of the territory of Israel, according to an article in Arutz Sheva.
According to that publication, the EU has made further differentiations based on the 1967 truce lines, clearly delineating territories seized as “occupied” and requiring Israel to identify any economic activity originating from those regions for exclusion.
EU officials have commented that there has been significant pressure to modify and limit the approve sanctions prior to their upcoming publication.
Syria
The decision to move against Israel falls on the eve of announcements from France and then Britain to hold back materiel support for pro-Israeli factions fighting against the Syrian government.
Germany had previously announced that no aid would be forthcoming.
The United States, although announcing, in June, that arms would be supplied, has withheld promised military aid though the Syrian government has made significant advances against rebel held enclaves.
Israel’s position
“The attack by the EU disproportionate and is likely to have no positive effect on restarting meaningful dialog over the Palestinian question. When it comes to disputed territories, the Europeans prefer to attack a small country like Israel instead of taking on more powerful states, because they are afraid of retaliation. We were only informed at the last moment,” a high ranking Israeli official said.
Israel’s position was confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister, Ze’ev Elkin. In a statement to the press, Elkin referred to the EU directive as a “mistake” likely to undermine any progress already made. "We are not ready to sign on this clause in our agreements with the European Union."
Elkin also cited Israel’s failure to get in front of the issues that led to this confrontation which will, as he also stated, “halt all cooperation in economics” and be extremely harmful to Israel’s economy.
Palestinian response
Arutz Sheva reports that Palestinian leaders will only negotiate based on pre-1967 lines and “if Israel freezes all settlement activity in Judea and Samaria.”
Thus far, the world press has been unaware of these expanded Palestinian demands that would require Israel to not only stop all settlement activities in areas referred to as “occupied” but over wider areas now settled by up to 1.8 million Israelis.
There are already over 550,000 Israelis living in the “occupied zones,” primarily eastern Jerusalem, known as Al Quds, and the West Bank.
The EU position impacts nearly one third of Israel’s population, one third of its economic base.
All about money
The real impetus for increased pressure on Israel has been the failure of western economies and their disastrous currencies.
The real subtext for scaling back support for Israel has been seen in the strangely unreported change in America’s deficits.
During the last fiscal quarter, the United States has shown a net budget surplus for the first time in decades. Two of the last three months have yielded surpluses in excess of USD 100 billion.
The message has been clear to EU leaders, as America has drawn down its role as “policeman of the world,” the real security issue, potential economic collapse, has become less of a threat.
What is unlikely to be admitted is the simple fact that the projection of military power to secure resources, when those resources are exploited by multi-national entities, offers a very poor return.
Thus, Israel’s current dilemma is much more rooted in its role as an economic liability than in any concerns regarding human rights.
EU settlement directive angers Israel
The Israeli regime is angered by the European Union’s new directive that bans the EU's dealing with Israeli settlements built beyond 1967 borders.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Zeev Elkin said on Tuesday that the EU decision was “very significant and worrying.”
The new measure demands Israeli authorities to guarantee that all EU funding and cooperation projects are not in al-Quds (east Jerusalem), the West Bank or Golan Heights, as the territories were captured by the Tel Aviv regime during 1967 war.
The directive is expected to take effect as of 2014.
Elkin said the decision would undermine attempts by US Secretary of State John Kerry to begin peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Reports say that the new directive was drawn up as a result of the decision by European foreign ministers last December, which stated that all agreements between the EU and Israel “must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”
The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member observer state on November 29, 2012.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds. Much of the international community considers the settlements illegal.
Last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel’s plan to build more than 1,000 new illegal units in the occupied West Bank.
Ya'alon on EU decision: Will continue same policy in Judea, Samaria
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel. "It is not new that many countries in the world refer to Judea and Samaria as occupied territory, and according to this they act," said Ya’alon.
"We have our policies and will continue to abide by and according to our interests," he added.
Yachimovich: Unfortunate that EU focuses on bans instead of on negotiation
Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel, saying that "the increasing diplomatic isolation is causing harm to the country and the market and poses a strategic threat no less than do sophisticated weapons aimed at us.
" "Nevertheless," Yachimovich added, "it is very unfortunate that instead of supporting and helping the Americans efforts to resume negotiation, the European Union focuses on sanctions and bans."
Lapid: EU decision sabotages Kerry's efforts for peace
Finance Minister Yair Lapid responded to the EU's decision to ban settlement agreements with Israel, saying "this decision is another in a long line of decisions that isolate Israel." He added that "every day that Israel does not engage in peace talks is a day in which our international status sustains more damage.
Nevertheless, this is a miserable decision, which was made in very bad timing and sabotages the efforts that US Secretary of State is putting into bringing the sides to negotiation.
EU sanctions keep Israel guessing
In a surprise last-minute move, the European Union has set forth a strong set of economic sanctions against Israel, leaving that nation both surprised and reeling.
The sanctions, stimulated by what the EU refers to as “Israeli intransigence” regarding peace talks with the Palestinians, cover all financial dealings, loans, awards, transfer of “instruments” and severely limiting economic cooperation between Israel and all EU member nations starting in 2014.
The sanctions are against any Israeli “economic activity,” not just within what has been referred to as the “occupied territories” but broad areas of Israel that had been designated for the establishment of an “Arab State” in 1949. Those territories extend in an almost contiguous line from the Lebanon border to the Red Sea.
Israel has referred to these territories as “Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.” The term “Judea” alone could refer to the entire Roman province including large regions of Lebanon and Jordan.
Thus, one might question why the European Union would include such broad territories, clearly intended to offset Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s demands for “defensible borders.”
The EU has gone much further than imagined, an act Israel sees as an “ambush.”
Israeli response
Israel has responded with a number of objections citing, initially that they feel the “EU attacks us because we are small,” as cited by Gil Ronen with Arutz Sheva, Israel National News.
The sanctions, to be published Friday, July 19, 2013, will prohibit all 28 European Union member states from any economic contacts with Israeli “entities” that operate outside the 1949 Armistice lines.
These territories differ greatly from the ceasefire lines of the 1967 war and include up to 25% of the territory of Israel, according to an article in Arutz Sheva.
According to that publication, the EU has made further differentiations based on the 1967 truce lines, clearly delineating territories seized as “occupied” and requiring Israel to identify any economic activity originating from those regions for exclusion.
EU officials have commented that there has been significant pressure to modify and limit the approve sanctions prior to their upcoming publication.
Syria
The decision to move against Israel falls on the eve of announcements from France and then Britain to hold back materiel support for pro-Israeli factions fighting against the Syrian government.
Germany had previously announced that no aid would be forthcoming.
The United States, although announcing, in June, that arms would be supplied, has withheld promised military aid though the Syrian government has made significant advances against rebel held enclaves.
Israel’s position
“The attack by the EU disproportionate and is likely to have no positive effect on restarting meaningful dialog over the Palestinian question. When it comes to disputed territories, the Europeans prefer to attack a small country like Israel instead of taking on more powerful states, because they are afraid of retaliation. We were only informed at the last moment,” a high ranking Israeli official said.
Israel’s position was confirmed by Deputy Foreign Minister, Ze’ev Elkin. In a statement to the press, Elkin referred to the EU directive as a “mistake” likely to undermine any progress already made. "We are not ready to sign on this clause in our agreements with the European Union."
Elkin also cited Israel’s failure to get in front of the issues that led to this confrontation which will, as he also stated, “halt all cooperation in economics” and be extremely harmful to Israel’s economy.
Palestinian response
Arutz Sheva reports that Palestinian leaders will only negotiate based on pre-1967 lines and “if Israel freezes all settlement activity in Judea and Samaria.”
Thus far, the world press has been unaware of these expanded Palestinian demands that would require Israel to not only stop all settlement activities in areas referred to as “occupied” but over wider areas now settled by up to 1.8 million Israelis.
There are already over 550,000 Israelis living in the “occupied zones,” primarily eastern Jerusalem, known as Al Quds, and the West Bank.
The EU position impacts nearly one third of Israel’s population, one third of its economic base.
All about money
The real impetus for increased pressure on Israel has been the failure of western economies and their disastrous currencies.
The real subtext for scaling back support for Israel has been seen in the strangely unreported change in America’s deficits.
During the last fiscal quarter, the United States has shown a net budget surplus for the first time in decades. Two of the last three months have yielded surpluses in excess of USD 100 billion.
The message has been clear to EU leaders, as America has drawn down its role as “policeman of the world,” the real security issue, potential economic collapse, has become less of a threat.
What is unlikely to be admitted is the simple fact that the projection of military power to secure resources, when those resources are exploited by multi-national entities, offers a very poor return.
Thus, Israel’s current dilemma is much more rooted in its role as an economic liability than in any concerns regarding human rights.
Israel is concerned that the European Union would start implementing the new decree that states on the prevention of its members from dealing with Israeli bodies in the West Bank territories and East Jerusalem, especially settlements.
The EU's decree warns from financing Israeli entity and providing grants and donations for scientific research, and also requires that signing any future agreements with Israel must include a term recognizing that east Jerusalem and the West Bank are not part of the State of Israel and therefore not part of the contract.
An Israeli official, identity not revealed, described this move to be "dramatic" and an "earthquake", saying that this is the first time the EU's institutions issue such firm and formal instructions.
Dr. Ashrawi Welcomes EU Directive Banning Dealings with Israeli Settlements
In response to a recent European Union binding directive banning dealings with Israeli settlements, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:
"We welcome this significant move that calls for all EU projects to be conducted within pre-1967 lines and not in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or Golan Heights. This includes the prohibition of funding, cooperation and research funding, among other things, to any individual or institution in the illegal settlements."
"The EU has moved from the level of statements, declarations and denunciations to effective policy decisions and concrete steps which constitute a qualitative shift that will have a positive impact on the chances of peace. The Israeli occupation must be held to account, and Israel must comply with international and humanitarian law and the requirements for justice and peace," stressed Dr. Ashrawi.
In addition, Dr. Ashrawi met today with Right Honorable Ed Balls, the current British Labour and Co-operative MP for Morley and Outwood and the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as British Consul General Sir Vincent Fean, and representatives from the British Consulate General in Jerusalem. They discussed the latest political developments in Palestine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's peace initiative, regional developments, as well as issues of mutual concern.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi said, "It is evident that the Israeli coalition government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are more committed to Israeli settlements than to peace. The agreed terms of reference – United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 and the land for peace equation, as well as signed agreements and international law – must be respected and upheld. This requires Israel to withdraw to the 1967 boundaries, cease all settlement activities and recognize East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine, in addition to releasing Palestinian prisoners, reopening Jerusalem institutions and refraining from all other violations including the siege, checkpoints and the whole system of control imposed by the military occupation of Palestine.
"It is thus Israel that holds the key to peace; it can either pursue the path of impunity, entitlement, and oppression, or it can relinquish the territories it occupies in 1967 and join the global community as an equal and not as a rogue state," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
The EU's decree warns from financing Israeli entity and providing grants and donations for scientific research, and also requires that signing any future agreements with Israel must include a term recognizing that east Jerusalem and the West Bank are not part of the State of Israel and therefore not part of the contract.
An Israeli official, identity not revealed, described this move to be "dramatic" and an "earthquake", saying that this is the first time the EU's institutions issue such firm and formal instructions.
Dr. Ashrawi Welcomes EU Directive Banning Dealings with Israeli Settlements
In response to a recent European Union binding directive banning dealings with Israeli settlements, PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:
"We welcome this significant move that calls for all EU projects to be conducted within pre-1967 lines and not in East Jerusalem, the West Bank or Golan Heights. This includes the prohibition of funding, cooperation and research funding, among other things, to any individual or institution in the illegal settlements."
"The EU has moved from the level of statements, declarations and denunciations to effective policy decisions and concrete steps which constitute a qualitative shift that will have a positive impact on the chances of peace. The Israeli occupation must be held to account, and Israel must comply with international and humanitarian law and the requirements for justice and peace," stressed Dr. Ashrawi.
In addition, Dr. Ashrawi met today with Right Honorable Ed Balls, the current British Labour and Co-operative MP for Morley and Outwood and the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as British Consul General Sir Vincent Fean, and representatives from the British Consulate General in Jerusalem. They discussed the latest political developments in Palestine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's peace initiative, regional developments, as well as issues of mutual concern.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi said, "It is evident that the Israeli coalition government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are more committed to Israeli settlements than to peace. The agreed terms of reference – United Nations resolutions 242 and 338 and the land for peace equation, as well as signed agreements and international law – must be respected and upheld. This requires Israel to withdraw to the 1967 boundaries, cease all settlement activities and recognize East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine, in addition to releasing Palestinian prisoners, reopening Jerusalem institutions and refraining from all other violations including the siege, checkpoints and the whole system of control imposed by the military occupation of Palestine.
"It is thus Israel that holds the key to peace; it can either pursue the path of impunity, entitlement, and oppression, or it can relinquish the territories it occupies in 1967 and join the global community as an equal and not as a rogue state," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
