‘EU must cut ties to BDS organizations’
Sixty European parliamentarians have called on the European Union to sever its ties with organizations affiliated with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, including halting financial support.
The parliamentarians on Tuesday sent a letter to this effect to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who has opposed boycotts of Israel but supported the publication of guidelines to help member states label Israeli products made over the Green Line.
The signatories called on the EU to “ensure that no EU public funds go to organizations calling for a boycott of the State of Israel and to instruct their relevant agencies not to engage with companies, organizations or other entities involved with the BDS movement.”
“We are writing to you regarding the incitement to hatred and violence perpetuated by ongoing calls for BDS, a movement that question the legitimacy of the State of Israel and creates tensions among our European, Christian, Muslim and Jewish constituents,” the members of parliament wrote.
Information about the petition was given to The Jerusalem Post by the Europe Israel Public Affairs organization, the pro-Israeli lobby group at the EU.
The initiative was spearheaded by MEP Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania); MEP Ioan Mircea Pascu (S&D, Romania) who is a vice president of the parliament; MEP Arne Gericke (ECR, Germany); and MEP Petras Austrevicius (ALDE, Lithuania)
Preda, who is the foreign affairs coordinator for the European People’s Party, said he opposed calls by left-wing parliamentarians to halt bilateral ties between Israel and the EU.
“It’s in the interest of this House, and of our citizens, to see an upgrade in the partnership agreement with Israel. We should not allow the current stalemate in the peace process to dictate the terms of our relationship with Israel,” he said.
The petition comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to head to Brussels on December 11, at the invitation of Lithuania. He will speak with the EU foreign ministers at an informal breakfast prior to their monthly meeting.