Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 26 May 2018
Israel calls on EU to end funding to pro-boycott groups

By TIA GOLDENBERG nonviolent struggle ac-
Associated Press cording to the international
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel law, regardless of the re-
called on the European sults, because we believe
Union on Friday to halt fund- in this path," he said.
ing to more than a dozen The call to the EU follows
European and Palestinian other steps Israel has tak-
non-governmental organi- en to ratchet up its fight
zations that it says promote against the boycott move-
boycotts against Israel, say- ment. Earlier this year, Israel
ing the financial support identified 20 activist groups
violates the EU's stated poli- from around the world
cy that it opposes boycotts whose members would be
against the Jewish state. banned from entering the
Israel's Strategic Affairs Min- country over their calls to
istry published a report with boycott the Jewish state.
a list of groups that it says For its part, the EU has rec-
receive EU funding and call ommended that its mem-
for boycotts against Israel. ber states put special labels
It said some of the groups on exports from Israeli set-
had links to militant groups tlements in the West Bank.
while receiving EU money. It has stopped short of ban-
The report was the latest ning settlement products,
salvo by Israel in its fight but they do not receive
against a global move- the same tax emptions that
ment calling for boycotts, products made in Israel re-
divestment and sanctions ceive.
over of its treatment of the The EU has upheld the free
Palestinians. The move- expression rights of its citi-
ment, known as BDS, has zens to call for a boycott of
urged businesses, artists Israel but has stressed that
and universities to sever ties the body opposed any
with Israel and it includes boycott of Israel.
thousands of volunteers In the years since its forma-
around the world. tion, the BDS movement
Supporters of the move- has persuaded several
ment say the tactics are a church organizations to
nonviolent way to promote divest themselves of Israel-
the Palestinian cause. Israel related investments and
says the campaign goes has garnered support on
beyond fighting its occu- In this Jan. 22, 2017 file photo, workers carry material at a construction site in the West Bank settle- U.S. college campuses. Re-
pation of territory Palestin- ment of Maaleh Adumim. cently, pop singer Lorde
ians claim for their state Assocaited Press joined a number of other
and often masks a more artists who have canceled
far-reaching aim to dele- not allowed to talk to the group had links to Palestin- "We do not agree with this performances in Israel amid
gitimize or destroy the Jew- media. ian militant groups. interpretation, but accept- pressure from BDS activists.
ish state. Earlier, an EU statement The U.S. Justice Depart- ed the settlement to avoid Even so, a slew of other mu-
"The state of Israel expects said the bloc was "happy to ment announced in April an even more costly judi- sicians have defied boy-
the EU to act with full trans- review any relevant infor- that the group reached a cial process," it said. cott calls and performed.
parency and reveal the mation received concern- settlement with the United The U.S., along with the EU, Israel has also enjoyed new
scope of its financial aid ing EU funded activities." States over accusations considers Hamas, a group economic partnerships and
to organizations that have "Money from the EU budget that it had provided "train- that has targeted civilians diplomatic ties despite calls
ties to terror and promote may only be spent for the ing and expert advice or in suicide bombings and for boycotts, and it has be-
boycotts against Israel" the purpose for which it was assistance" to the Islamic other attacks, as a terrorist come a top destination for
report said. "Israel strongly contracted, under strict militant Hamas group that organization. international sporting and
urges the EU to fully imple- transparency rules and is rules the Gaza Strip, as well Other groups singled out in cultural events. Earlier this
ment in practice its de- subject to extensive moni- as other Palestinian militant Friday's report included the month, Israel became the
clared policy of rejecting toring requirements," it said. groups and Iran. As part of British organization War on first non-European country
boycotts against Israel, and Israel said the NGOs re- the settlement, NPA "admit- Want, the Dutch anti-war to host stages of the Giro
to immediately halt funding ceived a total of 5 million ted to and accepted re- group PAX as well as a num- d'Italia cycling event.q
to organizations which pro- euros ($5.9 million) in 2016, sponsibility for its conduct" ber of Palestinian groups,
mote anti-Israel boycotts the last year for which data and agreed to pay more including PNGO Net, an
and de-legitimization." was available, according than $2 million. umbrella organization that
EU officials said the bloc's to the ministry report. NPA's chief Henriette Killi works to coordinate Pales-
foreign policy chief, Fed- It accused some of the Westhrin said the U.S. gov- tinian civil society.
erica Mogherini, received NGOs of having links to ernment interprets the par- Munjid Abu Jaish of PNGO
the report from Israel along Palestinian militant groups, ticipation of individuals on Net called Friday's report
with a letter requesting a listing among others Nor- their list of banned nation- "another Israeli aggres-
reply and that it's now un- wegian People's Aid, which als or groups "in trainings or sion against the Palestinian
der consideration. The of- received more than 1.7 meetings on human rights people and their institu-
ficials spoke on condition million euros ($2 million) and democracy as mate- tions."
of anonymity as they were in 2016 and claiming the rial support." "We will continue our legal