Tag Archive for EU

| February 18, 2013
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EU rejects declaring Hezbollah a ‘terrorist organization’

EU sources report that if Hezbollah’s involvement in last July’s terrorist attack in Bulgaria is proven, the most the EU will do is consider implementing pinpoint sanctions against it, but the European Union will not call Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

By Dan Lavie, Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

 

If the required proof implicating Hezbollah in the terrorist attack in Bulgaria last July is provided, then the EU would lean toward implementing pinpoint sanctions against elements involved in the attack, but would refrain from formally declaring Hezbollah a “terrorist organization,” European Union sources said on Sunday.

The scene of the terrorist attack against Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria, last July.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 15, 2013
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Polish call to Ashton: Make Efforts to Acknowledge Hizbullah as Terror Group

Polish MEP Michal Tomasz Kaminski has called on EU’s Ashton to step up Europe’s efforts to designate Hizbullah a terrorist organization and stop their operations in EU member states as bases for money-laundering & fundraising.

By Elad Benari

 

Polish MEP Michal Tomasz Kaminski on Thursday called on EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to step up Europe’s efforts to designate Hizbullah a terrorist organization after last week’s Bulgarian’s report that the Lebanese group was behind the terror attack on Israeli tourists in Burgas in July 2012.

Hezbollah rocket launcher

Hezbollah rocket launcher, used to kill Israeli civilians, in violation to the Geneva Conventions

The European Jewish Press (EJP) reported that in a written question to Ashton, ahead of Monday’s meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers where the issue is likely to come under discussion, Kaminski asked why the EU remains “reluctant to call Hizbulllah by its proper name”, after Ashton’s official response to the Burgas findings expressed “the need for a reflection over the outcome of the investigation.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 12, 2013
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EU to exploit legal loophole to boycott ‘settlement’ goods

Germany’s Der Spiegel says EU to make serious effort on boycotting products produced in West Bank & Golan Heights by using import laws’ loopholes

By Ynet

 

Germany’s German Der Spiegel magazine claimed Monday that Israeli producers evade European Union legislation and falsely mark products made in the Golan Heights and the West Bank as “made in Israel.”

Grape vines in the Golan Heights Photo: Rina Nagila

Golan Heights vineyards – Photo: Rina Nagila

The report cited EU regulation that say that certain products, such as wine from the Golan Heights, must be marked with their exact place of production, in order to adhere with various European country’s preference not to import or sell products made in what Brussels deems as “illegal settlement.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 8, 2013
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Hezbollah status to be discussed at summit meeting by EU leaders

Despite Burgas bombing probe, European & Israeli officials are a bit skeptical that Hezbollah will be blacklisted.

 

Israeli officials expressed satisfaction Thursday that the question of placing Hezbollah on the EU’s terror blacklist was expected to be discussed at a two-day summit of the leaders of the 27 European Union states that began Thursday evening in Brussels.

Bulgaria bus bomb.

Bulgaria bus after terrorist’s bomb. – Photo: REUTERS

Though there was no expectation that any decision would be made at the meeting, one official said the very fact that it would be discussed by the European leaders was a step in the right direction.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 6, 2013
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Despite Hezbollah’s Burgas bombing, E.U. leaders are scared to confront Nasrallah

European Leaders know that changing Hezbollah’s designation to ‘terrorist organization’ would seriously hurt its entire drug-smuggling & money-laundering operations which fund its terrorist activities, yet they are more scared of loosing revenue and the risk of retaliation.

By Cnaan Liphshiz

 

(JTA) — In his many years of service for France’s spy agency, Claude Moniquet has seen much evidence linking Hezbollah to terrorist-related activities in Europe and beyond.

NasrallahThe attacks, says Moniquet, a 20-year veteran of the DGSE intelligence service, go back as far as 1983, to the bombing of military barracks in Beirut that killed nearly 300 people, including 58 French soldiers. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| January 27, 2013
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On Int’l Holocaust Memorial Day, EU’s Aston says “never forget”

EU’s foreign policy chief Ashton paid tribute to Holocaust survivors.

Germany’s Chancellor Merkel reiterated, responsibility for Nazi crimes is eternal.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, BLOOMBERG

 

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton paid a special tribute to Holocaust survivors, in a statement released on International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday.

Greeks wave swastikas to greet Merkel - Photo by REUTERS-Yannis Behrakis

Ashton said that the survivors of the Holocaust “remind us of this tragedy that we must never forget.”

“Today we remember the victims of the Holocaust. We honor every one of the six million who were brutally murdered in this darkest period of European history,” Ashton stated.

She stressed the importance of remembering that the crime was not perpetrated by a few individuals, but that many were involved directly and indirectly.

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Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 17, 2013
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EU Parliament to mark Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day

European Parliament President Martin Schulz adopts Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day as part of European institution’s official ceremonies.

Ynetnews

 

For the first time since the European Parliament’s establishment, its president, Martin Schulz, has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Day as part of its official ceremonies.

NEVER forget!

In a special letter sent to Rabbi Avi Tawil, president of the European Jewish Community Center (EJCC), Schulz acknowledged EJCC’s seven-year contribution to the Holocaust Day commemorations in European Union institutions, and promised that the European Parliament was committed to the perpetuation of the Holocaust and the promotion of democracy and human rights.

The decision to hold an official ceremony is a result of ongoing efforts by the EJCC. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| January 11, 2013
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Is European diplomacy in the service of our enemies?

Original Thinking: It is prudent to quote Winston Churchill, who castigated the British political leadership with the words, “You had the choice of choosing war or dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you got war.”

By BARRY SHAW

 

What has Israel experienced from Europe recently as it was assaulted by Palestinian terror and diplomacy? How do we define the attitude, words and deeds of European Union ministers and diplomats? What they have done and said can only be interpreted as closed-mind diplomacy in the service of our enemy.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg
Look how events unfolded. Although most condemned the Hamas missile attacks against Israel, they failed to follow their condemnation with any punitive measures against a Palestinian terror regime that is guilty of multiple international crimes ranging from terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity, incitement to murder and anti-Semitism, to name but a few.
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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| January 2, 2013
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Jerusalem passes intel to EU for ban on Hezbollah

Information was given on the terror group’s connection to the 2005 Hariri murder, narcotics & money-laundering operations, their ongoing role in destabilizing Syria, and the 2000 kidnapping of an Israeli businessman.

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

Hezbollah supporters in Beirut - Photo: REUTERS

Hezbollah supporters in Beirut – Photo: REUTERS

BERLIN – The Israeli government is redoubling its efforts to convince the European Union to outlaw Hezbollah within the 27-member body because of the Lebanese group’s record of terrorism.

According to reports in the Hebrew media, Israel’s new case involves showing Hezbollah’s role in the 2005 murder of Lebanese president Rafik Hariri, based on evidence culled from the international tribunal that investigated the bombing.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 25, 2012
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EU court rejects NGO Monitor petition to release information on Israeli NGOs

The right-wing group, NGO Monitor, which tracks the activity of left-wing organizations & NGOS in Israel, has been trying to obtain their documents for 10 years.

The European Court of Human Rights throws out the suit, saying the information may be used to harm the NGOs.

 

After four years of legal battles, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the request of the right-wing organization NGO Monitor to receive documents regarding the funding of 16 projects of human rights organizations in Israel.

European Union

The European Union flag. – Photo by Archive

NGO Monitor is a right-wing group that keeps track of the activity of left-wing non-profit organizations, in order to point out “foreign intervention” in Israeli affairs. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 20, 2012
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Once Again, EU’s ‘Harping’ Ashton condemns Jerusalem construction plans

EU foreign policy head complains that Israel’s plans to build thousands of homes in Givat Hamatos & Ramat Shlomo are ‘extremely troubling,’ and undermine peace prospects.

By AFP

 

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has released a statement condemning Israel‘s decision to go forward with plans to build thousands of new homes in two Jerusalem neighborhoods, Givat Hamatos and Ramat Shlomo.

Catherine Ashton – Photo: EPA

“The approval of an additional 2,610 housing units in the settlement of Givat Hamatos is extremely troubling, coming in addition to announcements made at the end of November and Monday’s approval of 1500 units in Ramat Shlomo,” Ashton said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 19, 2012
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U.S. St. Dept: ‘EU will soon designate Hezbollah as terrorist group’

U.S. St. Dept’s Daniel Benjamin reports that the US has shared intel with Europeans on Hezbollah’s increased activities in their countries.

 

WASHINGTON – The US State Department indicated Tuesday that it expected the EU to finally designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, following an intensive US lobbying campaign and suspected Hezbollah plots on European soil.

Hezbollah supporters in Beirut [file] - Photo: REUTERS

Hezbollah supporters in Beirut [file] – Photo: REUTERS


“We’ve been engaging with our partners in Europe and we are cautiously optimistic – at last – about the prospects for an EU designation of the group,” Daniel Benjamin, the State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism, said during an address at the Brookings Institution. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 12, 2012
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Israeli FM: Europe doesn’t care if Israel is destroyed

 

Europe remains silent on Palestinian violations because many of it leaders  agree with the long-term goals of Hamas.

“As far as they’re concerned, the destruction of Israel is a matter of course,” said Lieberman.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel this week expressed deep disappointment after the European Union condemned the building of new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”) as the main obstacle to peace.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

In an official response to the EU statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry noted that “settlement activity” had never before hindered the peace process, and that the true obstacle to peace is the Arabs’ ongoing refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 11, 2012
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Palestinian NGO offices raided by Israel’s IDF

IDF sweep, raiding 3 civil society organizations in Ramallah, is the 1st of its kind since the West Bank gov’t won int’l recognition at the UN General Assembly.

By Reuters

 

Israeli soldiers raided the offices of three civil society organizations on Tuesday in the heart of Ramallah, the de facto Palestinian capital in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Palestinians celebrating in Ramallah after the PA was given status as a UN non-member state.

Palestinians celebrating in Ramallah after the PA was given status as a UN non-member state. – Photo by Reuters

Entering before dawn, troops wrenched open the doors of the Women’s Union, the Palestinian NGO Network and Addameer, an advocate for Palestinians in Israeli jails, confiscating five computers from the latter group. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| December 11, 2012
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EU: Our agreements with Israel only apply to products limited to pre-’67 lines

EU foreign ministers dismayed at E-1 construction plans, say it would “seriously undermine the prospects of a negotiated resolution”

PM: On building houses in our capital, the EU is the first to protest. Where was the world’s censure when Hamas called for Israel’s destruction?

 

European Union foreign ministers strongly stated that all of the body’s agreements with Israel only applied to the pre-1967 lines, as they spoke out on Monday against Israeli settlement plans including the development of E1.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg - Photo: REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg – Photo: REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

A diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post that he feared some of the language in the council statement was placed there to lay the groundwork for labeling and possibly banning settlement products in the future.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
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