Italian Foreign Minister: EU policy to Israel was influenced by anti-Semitism

 Last update - 21:24 18/06/2008       
Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance of Jews
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

 

Italy's newly appointed foreign minister said Tuesday that the European Union has in the past taken an unbalanced stance on Israel, at times blurring the line between legitimate criticism and anti-Semitic sentiments.

 

Speaking before a forum on Israel-European relations in Berlin, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: "I have to admit, if I look at the past, EU has taken on some occasions an unbalanced stance visa vis Israel, even by making an unacceptable confusion between the legitimate political criticism of the Israeli gut [government??}  and the sentiment of intolerance against Jewish people that can become anti-Semitism."

 

Frattini, who was appointed by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is considered a supporter of Israel. His predecessor, Massimo D'Alema, often took a harsh line against Israel, particularly with regard to the Second Lebanon War and the situation in the Gaza Strip.
 
Frattini is expected to visit Israel sometime in July.

 

In his speech to the Israel-European forum, Frattini criticized the EU for delivering aid to Palestinian organizations which have incited against Israel.

 

"We ever [often??] found money given to NGOs close to Hamas using it to indoctrinates children against Israelis," he said, but added:

 

"Now things are changing completely. More awareness of the risk of growing anti-Semitism. Firmness vis a vis with Hamas. Support for the legitimate request of security of Israeli vis a vis the increasingly dangerous activities of Iran in the nuclear field."

 

With regard to the renewed negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem, Frattini said that the European Union would support Syria as long as it acted firmly against terrorism.

 

"EU will support the further commitment of Damascus, provided that Syria takes a very firm stance on preventing and fighting terrorist activities, including support of terrorist organizations that threaten Israelis," he said. "This is one political condition that we want to stress once again.