MattBB++
2013-07-16 16:44:25 UTC
EU takes tougher stance on Israeli settlements
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/16/eu-israel-settlement-exclusion-clause
Future agreements between the European Union and Israel must include
the explicit exclusion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank or East
Jerusalem, according to a new EU directive described by an Israeli
official as an "earthquake".
The EU guidelines, adopted on 30 June, will prohibit the issuing of
grants, funding, prizes or scholarships unless a settlement exclusion
clause is included. Israeli institutions and bodies situated across
the pre-1967 Green Line will be automatically ineligible.
The Israeli government will be required to state in any future
agreements with the EU that settlements in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem are outside the state of Israel.
The directive, part of the 2014-20 financial framework, covers all
areas of co-operation between the EU and Israel, including economics,
science, culture, sports and academia. It does not cover trade, such
as produce and goods originating in settlements.
An EU statement said the guidelines "set out the territorial
limitations under which the commission will award EU support to
Israeli entities 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 move follows a decision by EU foreign ministers last December 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". All Israeli settlements are
illegal under international law.
"The EU is trying to force Israel to adopt its position on
settlements," said an Israeli official. "Israel will have to
explicitly express in writing the EU's position. We don't believe the
EU's position should be forced down our throats like geese." He said
it was impossible for Israel to agree to such a demand.
The directive would affect "all realms of co-operation", he added, and
would result in "rising tension and increased friction" and "create a
lot of bad blood".
Another Israeli official told Haaretz, which disclosed the new
guidelines, the move was an "earthquake" which unprecedentedly turns
"understandings and quiet agreements that the [EU] does not work
beyond the Green Line" into "formal, binding policy".
Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi welcomed the guidelines.
"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," she said.
.......................
"Kerry is not scheduled to visit Jerusalem or meet with the Israeli
prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. Some analysts have suggested this
is because Israel has signed up to Kerry's parameters for a resumption
of talks, but he still needs agreement from the Palestinian side."
**********************
Talks are hard when neither side will give a inch.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/16/eu-israel-settlement-exclusion-clause
Future agreements between the European Union and Israel must include
the explicit exclusion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank or East
Jerusalem, according to a new EU directive described by an Israeli
official as an "earthquake".
The EU guidelines, adopted on 30 June, will prohibit the issuing of
grants, funding, prizes or scholarships unless a settlement exclusion
clause is included. Israeli institutions and bodies situated across
the pre-1967 Green Line will be automatically ineligible.
The Israeli government will be required to state in any future
agreements with the EU that settlements in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem are outside the state of Israel.
The directive, part of the 2014-20 financial framework, covers all
areas of co-operation between the EU and Israel, including economics,
science, culture, sports and academia. It does not cover trade, such
as produce and goods originating in settlements.
An EU statement said the guidelines "set out the territorial
limitations under which the commission will award EU support to
Israeli entities 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 move follows a decision by EU foreign ministers last December 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". All Israeli settlements are
illegal under international law.
"The EU is trying to force Israel to adopt its position on
settlements," said an Israeli official. "Israel will have to
explicitly express in writing the EU's position. We don't believe the
EU's position should be forced down our throats like geese." He said
it was impossible for Israel to agree to such a demand.
The directive would affect "all realms of co-operation", he added, and
would result in "rising tension and increased friction" and "create a
lot of bad blood".
Another Israeli official told Haaretz, which disclosed the new
guidelines, the move was an "earthquake" which unprecedentedly turns
"understandings and quiet agreements that the [EU] does not work
beyond the Green Line" into "formal, binding policy".
Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi welcomed the guidelines.
"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," she said.
.......................
"Kerry is not scheduled to visit Jerusalem or meet with the Israeli
prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu. Some analysts have suggested this
is because Israel has signed up to Kerry's parameters for a resumption
of talks, but he still needs agreement from the Palestinian side."
**********************
Talks are hard when neither side will give a inch.