Ongoing global anti-Semitism, Iranian operations in the region, Hezbollah, the Greater Jerusalem bill and more were all discussed between delegates of the European Parliament and MKs from across the political spectrum in the Knesset on Monday.
The discussions were held in the framework of a visit by a delegation of eight MEPs currently visiting Israel, headed by MEP Fulvio Martusciello of the Christian democratic European People’s Party, a center-right grouping in the European Parliament.
One of the key issues raised during the talks was by Yesh Atid MK and former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Peri regarding hostile Iranian activity close in the region and close to Israel’s borders as well as the status of Hezbollah as perceived by the EU.
Peri said that “the time has come for the European Union to recognize all branches of Hezbollah as a terror organization and not just its military [branch],” Peri told the MEPs.
The EU currently only lists Hezbollah’s paramilitary guerrilla militia as a terror group and not the entire organization, which includes its political wing which has 14 seats in the Lebanese parliament and two ministers in the government.
Peri also underlined the growing Iranian presence in Syria close to the border with Israel, noting that Israel has made numerous requests to the international community to clamp down on Tehran’s activities in the region which have gone unanswered.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said that Israel-EU relations were extremely important, and observed in particular that security cooperation had increased in recent years following a spate of terror attacks in Europe similar to those experienced of late in Israel.
He also noted that he has been criticized for various pieces of legislation proposed by MKs deemed detrimental or harmful to peace and coexistence, but which would never be passed into law and some of which had not even be submitted to the Knesset.
Edelstein referenced the Greater Jerusalem bill which had been scheduled for a vote for passage to the Knesset on Sunday and would would annex 19 West Bank settlements to the city of Jerusalem.
Edelstein said that the bill had not yet been passed to the Knesset, and added that it would not create any substantial changes to the status of Jerusalem.
At the same series of discussions, United Torah Judaism MK Yisrael Eichler upbraided the EU for interfering in Israel’s internal affairs.
Eichler pointed out that the EU and its member countries have complained and objected to Russian interference in internal political affairs in Europe but alleged that the EU conducted similar activities in Israel.
In referenced in particular financial support of the EU to what he termed leftist, anti-religious organizations in Israel.
For their part, the MEPs expressed a friendly attitude to the Jewish state, with MEP Miltiadis Kyrkos of Greece saying that the delegation “came as friend” of Israel and expressed appreciation in particular on behalf of Greece and Cyrpus for energy cooperation between the countries.
MEP Iveta Grigule-Peterse of Latvia said that as someone from a country with unfriendly neighbors, a reference to Russia, she was impressed to see how such a small country can survive in such an environment.
Martusciello concluded his comments by saying that time was “running out” and that public officials had an obligation to use all diplomatic tools at their disposal in the battle for democracy and peace.
“We are obligated to achieve this for our citizens,” said Martusciello.
Article source: http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/NY-Times-Some-Trump-advisers-used-private-email-for-government-business-505972
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