![Kuwaitis attending election campaigns in Kuwait City, Kuwait on 19 November 2016 [Jaber Abdulkhaleg /Anadolu]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_11_19-election-campaign-in-Kuwait-City-Kuwait.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Kuwait is apparently not concerned about Israeli efforts to undermine its application for Schengen Area visa-free travel for Kuwaiti citizens, AlKhaleejonline.com reported on Friday. Local sources said that the nature of Kuwaiti-EU relations means that Israel is unlikely to affect the issue. They added that Kuwait is “respected and appreciated” in Europe.
According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity:
Israel does not have the power to affect the EU as it has in the United States.
Israel’s efforts came after the Speaker of the Kuwaiti Parliament, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, asked the head of the Israeli delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s meeting in Russian to leave the chamber due to Israel’s crimes and rapacious policies against the Palestinians.
Elaf news website reported on Thursday that, according to senior sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Israel’s missions and organisations abroad to undermine any Kuwaiti initiative within international organisations. Kuwait began the move for visa-free travel to the Schengen countries for its citizens earlier this year.
Read: Kuwaiti Emir praises parliament speaker who expelled Israeli representative