Israel at Odds Over Latest EU Slap in the Face

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 |  Israel Today Staff  

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Israeli ministers this week were hotly debating what to do about the European Union's rejection of an Israeli proposal on how the Jewish state can participate in a major upcoming research program without legitimizing the dreaded "Jewish settlements."

As part of its new anti-Jewish settlement policy guidelines set to go into effect in 2014, the EU will ban cooperation with all Israeli research institutes that have a presence in Judea and Samaria, the so-called "West Bank."

That means Israel won't be able to participate in the important upcoming Horizon 2020 program, which it has already poured hundreds of millions of euros into preparing for.

Israel tried to propose that all Horizon 2020 events in the Jewish state would take place inside the pre-1967 borders, but the EU recently rejected that offer.

Some, like Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, are of the opinion that Israel should fully shun Europe over its new wave of boycotts. Others, like Science Minister Yaakov Peri, insist Israel must do everything possible to be included.

Where ministers from both sides of the spectrum agree is that the state of relations between Israel and Europe has never been more troubling.

An urgent ministerial meeting called by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday decided that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni would continue for the time being trying to reach an understanding with the Europeans.

We would like to remind our readers of Israel Today's efforts to help lessen the impact of the European boycott on both Israelis and Palestinians. While European claims to be imposing the boycott in the service of the Palestinian cause, the reality is that many Palestinians will lose their jobs as a result.

Help us turn this boycott into a BUY-COTT! **Visit our anti-boycott page now!

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