EU policy 'encourages' anti-Semitism, claims Lieberman

Israel’s foreign minister has attacked the European Union’s policy towards his country, saying it “encourages the manifestation of anti-Semitism.” Speaking at a meeting of Israeli ambassadors to European countries on Sunday, Avigdor Lieberman criticised “the European attempts to link the Palestinian issue and European-Israeli relations; Israel accuses the EU of being pro-Palestinian.

He claimed that the policy of some European countries towards Israel, such as Sweden and Ireland, “neglects all ethical considerations and ignores the fact that Israel is the only country, among all Middle East countries, which commits to Western values.”

Last year saw growing support for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the borders of 4 June 1967. Symbolic recognition of the state was given by the parliaments in 5 European countries. Britain, France and Ireland were added to the list latterly; Sweden has already offered full recognition. Last month the European Parliament also voted in favour of a draft resolution which supports the recognition of the State of Palestine: 498 MPs supported the draft with 88 voting against; 111 abstained.