Israel says won't sign EU deal under new terms

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel's deputy foreign minister says Israel would rather forego a research partnership with the EU worth hundreds of millions of dollars than accept an anti-settlement clause as part of such a deal.

New EU guidelines say partnership agreements with Israel must state clearly they are not applicable to the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, lands Israel captured in 1967. The guidelines were introduced to show the EU's growing dismay over Israeli settlement expansion on land the Palestinians want for a state.

The issue is coming to a head over Horizon2020, a seven-year European grant program that begins in 2014. Israel is the only non-EU country invited.

Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin told Israel Radio Friday that Israel wants to negotiate, but that "we can't sign" if the terms remain.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_EU?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-09-04-33-36

[MarkLaw]

1. Unfortunate

nonetheless, expected.

In the future Israel will find relations with allies strained if they continue to violate international law. The veneer of democracy is already very thin, if they insist on continuing to ignore the rights of Natives there is no way the Western world will be able to maintain ties with them. We can't pretend to espouse the democratic process while giving monies to a country that isn't truly democratic, or one that only values the rights of a particular religious group over the rights of others(this goes for Saudi Arabia, Pakistan etc as well). Americans and Europeans are becoming fed up with paying higher taxes and receiving less benefits. Even more so they are fed up with their tax dollars being sent abroad to undeserving parties while at home the infrastructure is in a state of decay.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. Brilliant! Nose, spite face; repeat as often as able.

[DallasNE]

3. The Problem, As I See It

Is that this will not cause Israel any financial hardship because America will simply make up the difference by increasing foreign aid to Israel. This settlement policy (land grab) is at the very heart of many of the issues that confront the Middle-East and once again Israel is not being helpful. And Citizens United is not helpful in this regard either as it helps assure that American policy is in lock step with Israeli policy.

[cstanleytech]

4. Which the US really needs to stop doing.

The US shouldnt keep blindly protecting their butts when they behave badly as all it does is cause more problems for the US and US relations with with other countries of the region.

[geek tragedy]

5. Priorities--grabbing land they feel is theirs due to some 6000 year old scrolls

is more important than science and maintaining good relations with an entire continent.

[starroute]

6. "Land the Palestinians want" -- what a slanted way of putting it

It makes it sound as though the land belongs to the Israelis and the Palestinians are trying to take it away, instead of being just the opposite.

I swear, there must be teams of people sitting around in back rooms somewhere thinking up clever ways to paint Palestinians, or poor Americans, or anybody else who isn't favored by the 1% as greedy takers who want to grab off stuff that doesn't belong to them.

[MrNJ]

7. Makes sense... NOT

So Israel's scientists and institutions are eager and capable of contribution to the scientific research that can enrich and improve the lives of everybody.

But the EU forgoes this because they choose to take a side in an unrelated dispute.
Who is cutting off its nose now?

[dipsydoodle]

8. The research issue is just part of it.

Overall the issue includes labeling produce etc from the areas in dispute as being Israel in origin when they are not in fact so.

Not sure about the US but everything here in the EU not home produced has to show country of origin.