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Pressure must be mounting to continue peace talks towards a framework agreement. The pens are dipped in poison. PM Netanyahu and President Abbas are needed to make painful decisions but defend their positions due to internal political differences. Secretary Kerry decided to leave the region today after an intense four-day diplomacy.
Israel accuses Kerry of urging EU settlement pressure
(Times of Israel) – Israeli diplomatic sources say US Secretary of State John Kerry is behind the recent wave of European threats to boycott settlement products, and intends to use these threats against Israel should the current series of peace talks fail, it was reported on Tuesday.
Kerry, according to sources cited in an Army Radio report, has encouraged various European countries behind the scenes in their efforts to initiate bans on the import of products originating in the West Bank settlements, but has taken pains to ensure that such actions remain “a threat” only.
The idea of boycotting or labeling settlement products gained momentum in Europe over the last year.
In December, a Dutch water company backed out of a major deal due to Israel’s national water carrier’s activities in the West Bank.
In November, a deal was signed to enable Israel’s participation in the Horizons 2020 joint research program, despite an EU decree, that banned West Bank Israeli institutions from receiving European funding.
In July, a major Dutch supermarket reportedly decided to stop carrying products from the settlements, but later said its policy had been quoted inaccurately.
Europe has long opposed much of Israel’s policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and in March EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was the latest to call for implementing the labeling of products produced in the settlements for sale in Europe.
Foreign ministry summons Dutch ambassador over ‘pro-boycott atmosphere’ in Holland
- ○ Ya’alon says Israel, PA working to extend talks beyond 9-month period
○ Moshe ‘Bogie’ Yaalon Takes it to the Delegitimizers! POW!
Earlier posts about Kerry’s shuttle diplomacy in my diary – McCain In Jerusalem to Voice Opposition Kerry’s Peace Push.
FC Vitesse in Arnhem has been caught lying and has embarrased Dutch FM Timmermans in relations to the UAE. The international headlines were based on false and incomplete information by FC Vitesse about their Israeli player Dan Mori who was left behind on a trip to the UAE.
So the truth is FC Vitesse made poor preparations, did not get proper advise on travel to the UAE, did not choose an official channel to Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and did not apply for a visum for Israeli player Dan Mori by the UAE Embassy in The Hague.
See the hateful comments added to this article in Israeli blog Ynet News. Yesterday I forwarded my comment to the blog, it was not published. Speaking of censorship or a form of Israeli boycott …
FC Vitesse caught lying
“Football club Vitesse is lying, never requested a visa for Israeli player Dan Mori. Dutch newspapers reveal this evening and the UAE Embassy in The Hague posted the same, a visa request was never received.”
Ever since Likud minded Dutch FM Uri Rosenthal left office, Dutch politics has received poor PR in Israel.
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In December, Vitens, the largest supplier of drinking water in the Netherlands, decided to end cooperation on projects with Israel’s national water carrier Mekorot over its operations in West Bank settlements.
○ Letter from Vitens to their shareholders [dutch language – refers to UN report]
○ OHCHR – Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
○ NGO Monitor – The Libel Campaign Against Mekorot Water Company
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○ OHCHR – Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories
○ Kerry Lobbying Arab Strongmen to Pressure Palestinians to Accept Israel as Jewish State
○ Ben Gurion Foresaw Palestinian Expulsion in 1937
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PM Netanyahu knew what was coming from the European Union. Due to a legal issue, Lieberman wasn’t sworn in as FM and Netanyahu in his absence made a mess of Israel’s relationship with other states. Arrogance or leadership failure?
Cross-posted from my diary – EU-Israel Trade Agreement, Funding Ban W. Bank July 16, 2013
Recalled an excellent diary over @ET – “The Israel Lobby” — overview and discussion May 2006