Der Krieg ist der Vater der Dinge. -HERAKLIT

IMRA Newsletter

Text of MK's letter to EU protesting their interfering in internal Israeli affairs by financing Left

THE KNESSET
Jerusalem, 6 Tamuz, 5761
27 June, 2001
To: PM Goeran Persson
President of the European Union

It has been made public in Israel that the European Union has been providing financial support to Israeli groups/institutions/organizations that are all partisan and political in nature. This is a blatant attempt at intervening in the internal affairs of the State of Israel. Attached is a list of these organizations, which was made public in Israel.

The European Union represents democratic states. It's democratic character is an inherent part of it's nature. As such, it should refrain from any attempt to influence the internal democratic process of another democratic state.

We, the undersigned members of the Israeli Knesset, would like to express our shock and outrage at this attempt at achieving political purposes by extending financial support to Israeli citizens and groups.

As the elected representatives of a democratic, free society, we strongly oppose such attempts at influencing our state's domestic politics and the policies of our government, by financial means.

In light of the gravity of these activities, we expect that the European Union will take the following measures:

1. Discontinue the financial support to Israeli non-profit organizations that are politically oriented;

2. Publicly disclose the list of Israeli groups/institutions/organizations which receive financial support from the European Union. The citizens of Israel will thus be informed as to those organizations that are influenced by, or are serving foreign interests, and EU member-states will be apprised of the objectives of the of the expenditure of their money.

Considering that the European Union is a democratic institution, that represents free and democratic nations, we are certain that it will act out of similar respect for the sovereignty and freedom of the State of Israel.

Respectfully yours, Benyamin Elon, Eliezer Cohen, Zevulun Orlev, Ze'ev Boim, Maxim Levy, Ayoob Kara, Mordechai Mishani, Michael Nudelman, Rahamim Melloul, Ofer Hugi, Nissim Zeev, Itzhak Gagula, Avraham Ravitz, Moshe Gafni, Avigdor Liberman, Nissim Dahan, Yitzhak Cohen, Yuri Shtern, David Tal, Shaul Yahalom, Amnon Cohen, Michael Kleiner, Marina Solodkin, David Magen, Yechiel Lasry, Yair Peretz, David Azoulay [More names to follow]

+++++

Member of Knesset
Binyamin Elon

7th of Tamuz, 5761 June 27 2001

EUROPEAN UNION INTERFERES IN ISRAELI INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Following reports in the Israeli press regarding funding that the European Union has allocated to various Israeli political organizations, MK Benny Elon [Chairman of the 7-man National Union-Israel Beiteinu faction in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament)] exposed the names of the organizations and the sums of money they received, in yesterday's Knesset session.

According to the EU report, funds were contributed solely to Israeli left-wing groups. We consider such action a blatant attempt to intervene in the internal affairs of the State of Israel. MK Elon has brought the issue to the attention of the Israeli Police for investigation.

Following is a partial list of the organizations that received funding from the EU and the sums they received:

1. The Four Mothers Movement to Leave Lebanon in Peace - 250,000 Euro.

2. Peace Now - Funded a mass anti-Netanyahu poster campaign - 400,00 Euro.

3. Institute for Democracy & Leadership Training - A project designed to sway immigrants from Russia away from their traditional voting patterns - 400,00 Euro.

4. Ir Shalem, Jerusalem - Funded legal advocacy for Arabs who are ilegal squatters on Jewish property in Jerusalem, and for ilegal Arabs building in Jerusalem - 250,000 Euro.

Please find above the letter of protest from Israeli Members of Knesset to EU President, PM Goeran Persson. To date 27 MK's have signed, including two ministers).

For more details and/or copies of:
- The EU "Note to the File" detailing the Israeli organizations that received funding and the sums they received.
- Peace Now Program Report to the European Commission.

Please contact:
- Sheike Rosenfeld - Spokesman - National Union-Israel Beiteinu Faction:
Cellular phone: 052-545716
Beeper service: 02-6294666/Ext. 131
- Uri Bank - Faction Whip - National Union-Israel Beiteinu: 050-326717

--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il

kokhaviv publications > The Israel Archive