Israel summons EU envoy in rebuke over criticism of ‘Jewish nation state’ bill

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the European Union’s Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giafret for an official rebuke yesterday over the EU’s criticism of the pending “Jewish nation state” bill.

According to the report by Ynet, the EU envoy had “approached members of Knesset about the proposed nationality bill, warning them it could have far-reaching consequences”.

In addition to the rebuke, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister planned to take “additional steps” against him.

“It is not enough that the EU funds NGOs that strive to undermine the State of Israel and finance illegal construction; it is now interfering with Israeli legislation. Apparently they do not understand that Israel is a sovereign state,” the statement read.

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According to Ynet, Channel 2 News reported yesterday evening that EU officials had warned Likud MKs that the bill “stinks of racism” and “hurts Israel’s standing” in the international community.

Haaretz noted that while “in recent years the EU has become a punching bag for many right-wing Israeli politicians, Netanyahu included”, in fact, “behind the scenes, the figures and budgets show that the ties between Israel and the EU are actually growing stronger”.