"We need clarification": EU criticizes Israel following Palestinian terrorist organization declaration | Israel today

Within hours - another sharp criticism of Israel by Europe:

The European Union today (Thursday) opposed Defense Minister Bnei Gantz's declaration of six Palestinian organizations as terrorist organizations, and an official statement claimed that "it will require clarification from Israel."

"The European Union is proud of its support for civil society that contributes to peace efforts and the promotion of ties between Israel and the Palestinians," the statement said.

"The EU seriously considers the inclusion of the six organizations in the list of terrorist organizations by the Ministry of Defense. This move has far-reaching implications for those organizations in the political, legal and financial spheres.

It added that "the EU will never fund or support terrorist organizations. It emphasizes its utmost commitment to avoid such situations, and takes very seriously such accusations against it. If solid evidence of improper use of EU funds had been presented, it would have taken action to attract "The same allegations. In the past, allegations of misuse of EU funds by Palestinian civil society organizations have not been substantiated."

It will be recalled that in Israel it was claimed that some of these organizations received assistance from the European Union.

The union said in a statement that "a prosperous civil society that supports the principles of freedom is the basis of democracy. 

Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

As you may recall, Defense Minister Bnei Gantz declared six organizations affiliated with the Popular Front as terrorist organizations and caused an international and even internal storm in the coalition.

The US administration also expressed strong reservations about the move and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken even spoke with Ganz on Tuesday.

The EU announcement comes just hours after 12 European countries (11 of them from the EU) condemned another Israeli decision - the decision to approve the progress of the construction of 3,144 housing units in Judea and Samaria. The US administration also expressed reservations.

Ariel Kahana participated in the preparation of the article