Israel slams EU for cooperating with anti-settlement group
Israel slams EU for cooperating with anti-settlement group
Israel has lashed out at the European Union for its "patronising" approach of marking International Human Rights Day with an exhibit critical of Israel's occupation of the West Bank.
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Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered an obstacle for peace [AFP]
Israel is lashing out at the European Union for its "patronising" approach of marking International Human Rights Day with an exhibit critical of Israel's occupation of the West Bank.
Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said on Tuesday that for some reason EU representatives "believe that the way to Israelis' hearts is by spitting in their faces."
He says the approach of "preaching hypocritical, condescending morality" will backfire, calling it "sad and superfluous."
The EU plans to mark the day together with the B'Tselem human rights group, among the foreign-funded anti-occupation advocacy groups Israel has been trying to crack down on.
The government has shunned foreign dignitaries who meet such groups and is pushing for legislation to curb their funding. Israel considers the groups to be slanderous toward the country.
Netanyahu's right-wing coalition government leans heavily on settlers and their supporters to maintain its thin parliamentary majority.
Over 600,000 Israeli Jews now live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, making a contiguous Palestinian state virtually impossible.
Settlement building in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem is considered illegal under international law.
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