Tag Archive for EU

| July 27, 2013
No comments

Israel stopped aiding EU representatives entering Gaza, European diplomat reports

Diplomat says recent lack of cooperation is part of Israeli response to EU’s new settlement (boycott) guidelines.

Ashton’s spokesperson: The European Union has not received any official communication on orders to limit work with EU on the ground & is seeking ‘urgent clarifications’ from Israel.

By Reuters and

Several European aid staff have been barred from entering Gaza as part of Israeli measures in the wake of new EU guidelines barring cooperation with settlements, a western diplomat said Friday. 

Palestinian workers at the Erez border crossing.

Palestinian workers at the Erez border crossing. – Photo: AP

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the humanitarian aid staff had failed to receive permits to enter the Gaza Strip.  Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| July 24, 2013
No comments

EU law officials to begin receiving intel on Hezbollah from Israel

Israeli officials say EU agencies will need tons of information on the Hezbollah to curtail its exploitation of operational agendas on the continent.

Israel’s UN ambassador Prosor says EU allowed Hezbollah to operate freely (in all it’s nefarious operations) for decades.

By HERB KEINON
 

 

Now that the EU has decided to designate Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist organization, Israel will begin providing EU law enforcement officials with intelligence material so they can enforce the decision, Israeli diplomatic officials said Tuesday.

HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS march through the streets of Beirut last year.

HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS march through the streets of Beirut last year. – Photo: Khalil Hassan/Reuters

Law enforcement authorities, homeland security officials and intelligence agencies in the EU’s 28 countries will need a plethora of information to make sure that Hezbollah’s military wing does not continue to operate on the continent, the officials added.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 23, 2013
No comments

German supermarket chain rebutes settlement boycott policy

Conflicting remarks between German owners and local Dutch operators.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch branch of the German supermarket chain Aldi has backtracked from its stated policy of boycotting products made by Israelis in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan.

מחרימה. רשת ALDI

Aldi branch in Holland

“Aldi would like to emphatically state that it does not boycott products from the occupied territories,” a spokesperson for Aldi’s Dutch branch wrote on Monday to the Information and Documentation on Israel — CIDI — a Dutch pro-Israel organization.

The spokesperson, Laetitia F. Gruwel, wrote in a letter to CIDI Director Esther Voet that “Aldi is not engaged in political or religious issues.”

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 22, 2013
No comments

It’s Done: EU puts Hezbollah’s military wing on terror blacklist

Blacklisting means imposing visa bans on certain Hezbollah members & freezing assets on organizations associated with the terror group, which is blamed for the 2012 tourist bus bombing in Burgas that killed 5 Israelis, 1 Bulgarian.

By Reuters and

European Union governments agreed on Monday to put the military wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on the EU terror list, diplomats said, in a major reversal of policy driven by concerns over the group’s activities in Europe.

Hassan Nasrallah

Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah delivering a broadcast speech during a rally, May 25, 2013. – Photo: AP

“Agreement (was) reached to list Hezbollah,” one EU diplomat told Reuters. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 22, 2013
No comments

Martin Indyk to represent US at Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

Former Ambassador Indyk said to be an accepted mediator by both PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas.

By

 

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk might be appointed the U.S. representative at Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, American blogger Laura Rozen reported Sunday, quoting diplomatic sources.

Martin Indyk speaks during U.S.- Islamic World Forum in Doha, June 2013.

Martin Indyk speaks during U.S.- Islamic World Forum in Doha, June 2013. – Photo: Reuter

Writing in Al-Monitor website, Rozen suggested the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was considering appointing Indyk, who also served as the Clinton’s administration’s assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs as the man in charge of the day to day negotiations. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| July 21, 2013
No comments

Experts: EU’s New anti-Israel Policy Could Lead to a Legal Quagmire

Despite Jerusalem’s diplomatic efforts to stop the anti-Israel process, the EU on Friday published its new official policy boycotting the Jews of Judea and Samaria.

By David Lev

 

Despite Israel’s efforts to stop the process, the European Union on Friday published its new official policy boycotting Jews and Israelis in areas of Israel liberated in the 1967 Six Day War, including Judea and Samaria and most of Jerusalem. Beginning next January, contracts and agreements between EU entities and businesses, individuals, and institutions from those areas will not be legally recognized by EU courts and forums.

In a statement, EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton said that despite Israel’s protestations to the contrary, “in no way will this prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 20, 2013
No comments

Lebanese official tells EU not to declare Hezbollah terrorist organization

Germany now leads European efforts to place Hezbollah’s military wing on EU terror blacklist following new evidence on the 2012 suicide bombing that killed 5 Israelis in Bulgaria.

By

The European Union is reassessing whether to declare Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist organization, a move it has long avoided despite U.S. pressure.

Reenactment of the Burgas bus bombing.


Reenactment of the Burgas bus bombing.- Photo by AP

The move was bolstered by Germany’s policy change after long resisting calls to list Hezbollah for fear it could destabilize Lebanon.

Germany said it was pushed toward declaring Hezbollah a terror group by the 2012 attack in the Black Sea resort of Burgas in Bulgaria. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| July 19, 2013
3 comments

A message to the EU: ‘Thank You’

Boycotting Jews is not a new phenomena. It has ushered the brilliance of Europe, North Africa and the Muslim states to immigrate to Israel.
Israel today achieves more than all of its enemies combined.

By Erwin Blank

I have a message for the EU, a little bit of Israeli history that I believe is quite appropriate right now after their action to boycott all Israeli businesses, products and services that are located in Yehudah and Shomron.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-14468, Berlin, NS-Boykott gegen jüdische Geschäfte.jpg

Stormtroopers outside a Berlin store posting signs with the words “Germans! Defend yourselves! Do not buy from Jews” (“Deutsche! Wehrt Euch! Kauft nicht bei Juden!”).

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 17, 2013
One comment

PA official: EU’s new Judea & Samaria guideline will hurt Palestinians

 

Palestinian officials approach Europeans, saying that Palestinian laborers are going to lose their livelihoods because of the EU decision to exclude settlement enterprises from future cooperative agreements.

Leading manufacturer calls move illegitimate & destructive.

By Daniel Siryoti, Shlomo Cesana & Hezi Sternlicht

 

A senior Palestinian Authority official confirmed to Israel Hayom on Tuesday that many in Ramallah were dissatisfied with the European Union’s decision to withhold economic grants and incentives to Israeli companies situated in Judea and Samaria.

Palestinian laborers want to work – Photo: Aryeh Tadmor

“For our part, we approached a number of [European] Union officials, in the [Palestinian] Authority and also in Israel, to try and prevent the decision or at least to keep it unofficial,” said the official, who declined to give his name.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 17, 2013
No comments

The EU is wrong…. Again

Will the Europeans ever understands that the conflict has little to do with the 1967 borders and everything to do with our very existence here?

By Knesset Member Ofir Akunis

The European Union is wrong. Taking a unilateral stand will not encourage the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table. On the contrary — automatically siding with the Palestinian Authority’s positions will only drive them away. Why engage in negotiations with Israel when their demands are met in advance?

MK Ofir Akunis - Facebook photo

MK Ofir Akunis – Facebook photo

It seems that past experiences have failed to leave their mark. Europe has supported the various erroneous notions previously employed here — the Oslo Accords, the disengagement from Gaza Strip, former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert’s proposals to return to the 1967 borders and divide Jerusalem — have all failed.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 16, 2013
11 comments

European Union Formally Limits Israel to Borders of 1949 Lines

For the 1st time, the EU formally forbids trade or agreements with Jewish representatives situated beyond 1949 Armistice lines, including the Golan Heights.

By Gil Ronen

 

The European Union has issued orders forbidding its member states from cooperating, transferring funds, giving scholarships or research grants to bodies in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem , and even the Golan Heights, Haaretz wrote Tuesday.

map of Israel

map of Israel – Arutz Sheva

The new instruction, promulgated bt the European Commission, which is the operative arm of the EU, sets parameters for cooperation between the EU and its members states, on the one hand, and Israeli governmental and private elements on the other. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 16, 2013
No comments

Israel official: Britain & US pressuring EU to blacklist Hezbollah’s military wing

Officials say UK & U.S. are pressing several reluctant EU countries to back such a move, ahead of the July 22 meeting of EU foreign ministers.

 

The foreign ministers of the European Union are most likely to add Hezbollah’s military wing to the body’s list of designated terror organizations when they meet on July 22, according to high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem.

The officials said Britain and the United States are pressing several EU countries that are reluctant to back such a move.

A truck carrying the bus that was damaged in Wednesday’s terrorist attack on July 19, 2012.

A truck carrying the bus that was damaged in terrorist attack, outside Burgas Airport, Bulgaria on July 19, 2012.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 13, 2013
No comments

UK Report: EU governments held secret talks with Hamas dispite terror blacklist

According to a report published in The Guardian, the Islamist terrorist group spoke with France, the UK, Spain & others despite EU’s official policy of isolating it.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Hamas has been in closer contact with European governments despite Brussels’ official policy of isolating the Palestinian Islamist organization, according to a report which appeared in the British daily The Guardian on Friday.

Hamas supporters rally in Hebron

Hamas supporters rally in Hebron – Photo: REUTERS

The newspaper quoted senior Hamas officials as saying that the organization which today rules the Gaza Strip has over recent months held back-channel discussions with numerous EU governments, including the United Kingdom.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 6, 2013
No comments

Britain asks EU to Reconsider and Blacklist Hizbullah

The UK’s push to have Hizbullah blacklisted may have gained support due to the group’s actions in Syria, say diplomats.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Britain has asked European Union foreign ministers to once again discuss putting Hizbullah’s so-called “military wing” on the EU terror list, diplomats said on Friday.

Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah – Photo: AFP

Several weeks ago, a British drive to reach a unanimous decision to blacklist Hizbullah failed, when the EU expressed fear that such a move would lead to instability in Lebanon and the Middle East.

Austria and the Czech Republic opposed the move to add Hizbullah to the EU terrorist list, which includes several groups such as Hamas and Colombia’s FARC guerrillas, who are subject to an asset freeze. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| June 30, 2013
No comments

German Report: U.S. spied on EU diplomats in Brussels, N.Y. & Washington

According to documents taken by whistleblower Snowden, NSA ‘bugs’ allowed to them to listen to conversations and hack EU computer networks.

By DPA

 

The U.S. National Security Agency allegedly conducted spying on European Union diplomats, according to classified documents taken by whistleblower Edward Snowden and reported by German news magazine Spiegel on Saturday.

Photos of Edward Snowden, a contractor at the NSA, and U.S. President Barack Obama in newspapers

Photos of Edward Snowden, a contractor at the NSA, and U.S. President Barack Obama are printed on Hong Kong newspapers in this illustration photo June 11, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

 

The NSA bugged EU offices in Washington and at the United Nations in New York and infiltrated internal computer networks, allowing the U.S. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »