’Allegations of the EU supporting incitement, terror, antisemitism or BDS actions are unfounded and unacceptable,’’ an EU spokesperson told European Jewish Press (EJP)

In a new report, the ministry found that a total of more than 5 million euros in funding was transferred to ten organizations promoting boycotts against Israel, including two of the most prominent Israel-boycott groups, Al Haq and Al-Mezan ‘

’”As we have done in the past, we will thoroughly analyse also the present report,.’’ ‘’We have offered to the Israeli government (Minister Erdan) to engage in a serious and constructive dialogue with us. We have not received a reply so far, but our offer still stands’’

BRUSSELS—‘’Allegations of the EU supporting incitement, terror, antisemitism or BDS actions are unfounded and unacceptable,’’ an EU spokesperson told European Jewish Press (EJP) in comments to the  publication last week by Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan of a new report  revealing that that the EU continued in 2017-2018  to transfer  funds  to organizations which promote boycotts against the State of Israel ‘’contrary to statements by EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini  opposing Israel boycotts.’’

‘This is not the first time that such allegations are made by Israeli entities against the EU and its support to NGOs. The EU has not changed its position regarding the “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” (BDS) movement,’’ Maja Kocijnacic, who is the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs, said.

She repeated that ‘’the EU rejects any attempt to isolate Israel and does not support calls for boycott, nor fund actions that are related to boycott activities.’’

The Israeli 34-page report, titled ‘’The Money Trail 2nd Edtion,’’ followed an earlier in-depth study published by the Ministry of Strategic Affairs in May 2018 regarding EU funding for Israel-boycott organizations during 2016. At the time, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan urged Mogherini to ”to end the duality of EU policy which, on the one hand, officially opposes boycotts against the State of Israel, and on the other, supporting boycott organisations.” He at the time called on the EU ”to immediately cease the transfer of funds to these organizations.”

In the new report, the ministry found that a total of more than 5 million euros in funding was transferred to ten organizations promoting boycotts against Israel, including two of the most prominent Israel-boycott groups, Al Haq and Al-Mezan. ‘’The time has come for the EU to begin a deep reexamination of  its policies. Instead of hiding behind empty statements, the European Union needs to implement its own declared policy and immediately cease funding organizations that promote boycotts against the State of Israel,’’ said Minister Erdan.

According to the EU spokesperson, ‘’simply because an organisation or individual is related to the BDS movement does not mean that this entity is involved in incitement to commit illegal acts, nor that it renders itself ineligible for EU funding.’’

However, she told European Jewish Press that the ”we ’take any allegation of misuse of EU funds very seriously and we are committed to investigate all those presented with substantive evidence.’’

She added: ‘’Therefore, as we have done in the past, we will thoroughly analyse also the present report,.’’ ‘’We have offered to the Israeli government (Minister Erdan) to engage in a serious and constructive dialogue with us. We have not received a reply so far, but our offer still stands.’’

Kocijancic noted that the  December 18 report of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) found EU’s selection of NGO-led projects in accordance with international transparency standards. The ECA did not make any specific findings regarding funding of Israeli or Palestinian NGOs, which were not sampled for this audit,’’ she said.

The spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) also stressed that ‘’the EU stands firm in protecting freedom of expression and association. Any action that has the effect of closing the space for civil society organisations should be avoided.’’

‘’All EU engagement with the parties of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the ground serves the key EU policy objective of a peaceful solution by advancing and ultimately achieving a viable two-state solution.’’