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WORLD NEWS Thursday 20 July 2017

On hot mic, Israeli PM raps ‘crazy’ EU, admits Syria strikes

By PABLO GORONDI he added. EU-Israel rela-
ILAN BEN ZION tions have been tense for
Associated Press years, with Jerusalem feel-
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — ing that Brussels is target-
Israeli Prime Minister Benja- ing its policies far too much
min Netanyahu was caught while being too soft on the
Wednesday by a live micro- Palestinians. While the EU
phone railing against the is the main trading partner
European Union’s “crazy” for Israel, frictions have per-
insistence on resolving the sisted. Relations took a dive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict in November 2015 after Is-
as a precondition for closer rael derided a decision by
ties. the bloc to label products
Netanyahu was meeting made in Jewish settlements
with leaders of Poland, Hun- in the West Bank.
gary, the Czech Republic The EU doesn’t recognize
and Slovakia at a regional Israeli sovereignty over ter-
summit. Netanyahu was ritories it captured in the
discussing Iran, Syria, the Is- 1967 Mideast war, includ-
lamic State group, and EU- ing the West Bank and east
Israel relations when some Jerusalem, where the Pal-
of his comments — and estinians hope to establish
those of other leaders at a state. It has been a vocal
the meeting closed to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, critic of Israel’s settlement
media — were accidental- Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime construction and has ad-
ly broadcast to journalists in Minister Viktor Orban, left to right, shake hands during the meeting of Netanyahu and the Visegrad opted measures mandat-
another room. Group’s (V4) Prime Ministers in the Pesti Vigado building in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, July ing the labeling of goods
Netanyahu also made 19, 2017. Netanyahu is staying on a four-day official visit in Hungary. produced in West Bank
a rare public admission (Balazs Mohai/MTI via AP) settlements. “The Europe-
that Israel has struck Ira- “it’s crazy. I think it’s actual- Europe is undermining its ate conditions (for peace an Union is the only asso-
nian arms convoys in Syria ly crazy” that the 28-nation security by undermining Is- with the Palestinians),” said ciation of countries in the
bound for Hezbollah “doz- bloc maintains that resolv- rael. Europe is undermining Netanyahu. European ties world that conditions the
ens and dozens of times.” ing the Israeli-Palestinian its progress by undermin- with Israel would determine relations with Israel — that
The Israeli premier was conflict must come before ing the connection with whether the 28-member produces technology in
overheard blasting the EU’s closer trade ties. Israeli innovation because union would “live and thrive every area — on political
approach to Israel, saying “There is no logic here. of a crazy attempt to cre- or shrivel and disappear,” conditions. The only ones.q

Qatar official faults ‘disorganized’ conduct by Arab rivals

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- including shuttering the dangerous and disorga- safe havens for radical tions for damages alleg-
ates (AP) — A govern- Arabic news network Al- nized manner in which the groups, and suspending all edly caused by its policies.
ment official in Qatar said Jazeera, which Qatar dis- illegal blockade has been acts of provocation and The four countries accuse
Wednesday that the four missed as an infringement conducted,” he said in an speeches inciting hatred or Qatar of supporting groups
Arab countries isolating the on its sovereignty. emailed response to ques- violence. like the Muslim Brother-
tiny Gulf nation have acted Sheikh Saif Al Thani, direc- tions from The Associated Qatar denies it has ever hood, and say Qatar has
dangerously and in a “dis- tor of Qatar’s government Press. “At first there were sponsored or supported given citizenship to wanted
organized manner” after communications office, no demands, but following terror groups and says the Brotherhood members and
apparently changing their said the four countries have pressure from mediating accusations are politically other Islamists.
demands. Saudi Arabia, “regularly issued conflicting countries, the blockaders motivated. The small Gulf country’s for-
the United Arab Emirates, statements.” leaked a list of demands Not on this list are the more eign policy stances have at
Egypt and Bahrain said He said there has been that was quickly deemed specific demands from the times sharply contradicted
Tuesday that Qatar should no official communication neither reasonable nor ac- original 13 points that Qa- Saudi and Emirati policy in
commit to six principles made to Qatar directly or tionable,” he added. tar close down Al-Jazeera, the Middle East. Qatar has
on combatting terrorism via the United States or Ku- The apparently new list of curb ties with Iran, kick out backed Islamist opposition
and negotiate a plan to wait, which have tried to six demands includes com- troops from NATO member groups across the region,
implement them. The four mediate the crisis. mitments to combatting Turkey, which has a base which Saudi Arabia, the
countries had initially made “These latest comments extremism and terrorism, in Qatar, expel wanted UAE and Egypt deem a
13 sweeping demands, are another example of the preventing financing and Islamists and pay repara- threat.q