12 june 2018
A senior councillor in South Africa's Johannesburg city was suspended on Tuesday by the mayor after she made a public declaration that the city was a "friend" of Israel.
Mpho Phalatse, a councillor in charge of health, said at a weekend pro-Israel event, "I would like to declare that I am a friend of Israel and the city of Johannesburg is a friend of Israel," according to a video of her speech.
Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba later announced that he had decided to suspend Phalatse pending an investigation into the "full and proper context in which those remarks were made".
Phalatse is a member of South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance which is in power in the city of Johannesburg. The party supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Last month, South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel after the Israeli forces killed 62 Palestinians during peaceful protests against the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem.
The country said in a statement that the decision was made given the "indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack".
Mpho Phalatse, a councillor in charge of health, said at a weekend pro-Israel event, "I would like to declare that I am a friend of Israel and the city of Johannesburg is a friend of Israel," according to a video of her speech.
Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba later announced that he had decided to suspend Phalatse pending an investigation into the "full and proper context in which those remarks were made".
Phalatse is a member of South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance which is in power in the city of Johannesburg. The party supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Last month, South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel after the Israeli forces killed 62 Palestinians during peaceful protests against the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem.
The country said in a statement that the decision was made given the "indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack".
11 june 2018
The so-called Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security of the Israeli Knesset on Monday approved a bill to deduct the salaries paid to the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs from the tax revenues transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The Hebrew TV channel 7 reported that the committee ratified the bill in the second and third readings and cancelled the item which provides the government flexibility in deciding whether or not to deduct the payments.
The bill stipulates that Israel's Minister of Finance cut the monthly salaries paid by the PA to the families of martyrs and prisoners from the tax revenues Israel allegedly hands over to the PA.
According to the bill's proposal, the PA transfers 7% of its budget, estimated at 1.1 billion shekels ($ 300 million), financed largely by US and European aid, to pay salaries for the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs involved in anti-occupation attacks.
Except for MK for Meretz party Issawi Frej, the other members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security voted in favor of a new bill to deduct funds from the tax revenues paid to the PA to compensate the farmers of the Israeli settlements neighboring the Gaza Strip for the damages caused in their lands by fires sparked by burning kites sent from the coastal enclave.
The Hebrew TV channel 7 reported that the committee ratified the bill in the second and third readings and cancelled the item which provides the government flexibility in deciding whether or not to deduct the payments.
The bill stipulates that Israel's Minister of Finance cut the monthly salaries paid by the PA to the families of martyrs and prisoners from the tax revenues Israel allegedly hands over to the PA.
According to the bill's proposal, the PA transfers 7% of its budget, estimated at 1.1 billion shekels ($ 300 million), financed largely by US and European aid, to pay salaries for the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs involved in anti-occupation attacks.
Except for MK for Meretz party Issawi Frej, the other members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security voted in favor of a new bill to deduct funds from the tax revenues paid to the PA to compensate the farmers of the Israeli settlements neighboring the Gaza Strip for the damages caused in their lands by fires sparked by burning kites sent from the coastal enclave.
Netanyahu boasted on Sunday that Israel was the only Mideast country that 'welcomes gays,' yet only last week his own coalition thwarted a law supporting LGBT rights; bill's initiator, Zionist Union MK Stav Shaffir, slams 'hypocrite' lawmakers who failed to back her proposal after promising to do so.
The plenum was short of merely three votes last Wednesday to approve the same-sex civil union bill in a preliminary reading, allowing gay couples to be joined together by civil marriage. The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Stav Shaffir of the Zionist Union.
The vote was held two days before a record number of 250,000 people from all over the world flooded Tel Aviv's streets celebrating the Gay Pride Parade.
Although lawmakers of Likud and other coalition factions had expressed support for the bill, they lined up with the coalition discipline at the expense of the LGBT community's rights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted Sunday, during his speech at the opening of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) conference, that Israel was the only country in the Middle East that accepted the LGBT community.
"I am very proud that we have a very, very bright, and rising star in our party, Amir Ohana, but there are others in other parties,” he said, in reference to Likud’s first openly gay lawmaker who is raising his twin children with his partner.
"(Israel) is the only state in the Middle East in which homosexuals walk freely in Tel Aviv's streets and are being represented in the Knesset," Netanyahu stated.
The prime minister chose not to mention, however, that the coalition rejected last week the same-sex civil union bill in its preliminary reading, with 38 MKs backing it and 41 opposing.
Kulanu MK Yifat Shasha-Biton, chairwoman of the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child, told Ynet she voted against the bill due to coalition discipline. "I'm all in favor for a person to live according to his belief and (sexual) inclination," she said.
"However, I (also) believe in practicality and do my best to be realistic and choose my battles. I hope that someday (the bill) will be backed by the majority in the Knesset as well as among the citizens," she explained.
Likud MK Amir Ohana, who is openly gay, did not attend the vote since he was a broad, but wrote a post on Facebook denying the rumors implying he had voted against the bill.
"I don't really know how to deal with lies, but I see a few of them of going around," Ohana said. "I'm in Paris, attending a conference about the war on terror. The rumor that is going around that I voted against the same-sex civil union bill is a lie.
"I've never voted against any bill concerning the LGBT community since my first day in the Knesset, even when it was the coalition's obligatory stance," Ohana added.
"I've been voting in favor of bills concerning the LGBT community and against the coalition's stance for over a year, since my coalition rebellion," he elaborated.
"One can criticize me and say I have to deal with more LGBT-related matters (even if it's like fighting windmills in light of this coalition), one can demand that I be a better gay, just stop lying," Ohana implored.
Ynet turned to a few other coalition members who had voted against the bill and had shown support of the LGBT community on a number of occasions, but they chose not to comment on the matter.
The bill's initiator, MK Shaffir, told Ynet: "This was the closest fight we've had over a bill (concerning the LGBT community).
"(The same-sex civil union) bill could have made same-sex marriage in Israel a reality—something that is already supposed to be a given. Almost all of the Western world's countries have joined over the past few years to the list of countries enabling same-sex unions," Shaffir explained.
"Israel is officially signaling the world something completely different. The Ministry of Tourism wanted to spend NIS 12 million last year to promote gay tourism in Israel, but when it comes to voting, things suddenly look completely different, and other MKs who publicly stated they would vote in favor of the bill surprisingly vanished from the plenum (when the time to vote came)," she lashed out.
"I don't recall the ten amendments including coalition discipline. What is this? Is this a law coming from the sky? MKs go to the Knesset to promote their policies. The bill's biggest opponents are the Bayit Yehudi's members and not the members of the ultra-Orthodox parties," she lamented.
"One of the most infuriating things is that during the vote the Kulanu's MKs who promised to back the bill and protect the equality and the democracy (voted against the bill-ed)," Shffir decried.
"Kulanu has promised the public a lot. Certain MKs said loud and clear, on television, that they would support same-sex marriage. Several Likud's MKs also vowed they would vote in favor of any bill concerning promoting the LGBT community," the Zionist Union MK recalled.
"We heard those promises made in public, but in the moment of truth those MKs who display a liberal facade, just ran away," she opined.
"Kulanu MK Meirav Ben-Ari promised to vote in favor of the bill as well as MK Roy Folkman (but they didn't-ed). I would expect MK Orly Levy and Likud's MK Sharren Haskel to also back the bill (however it didn't happen-ed)," she concluded.
When Shaffir was asked whether those MKs who had not backed the bill were hypocrites, she said "absolutely."
"I think people have to realize that when they go into politics they do it in order to keep their promises. They work for the public, not for (Bayit Yehudi MK) Bezalel Smotrich or (United Torah Judaism MK) Yaakov Litzman "
MK Meirav Ben-Ari said in response that she didn't back the bill, but she didn't offset for an MK's absence either. "That's why the vote was so close. I'm sure it's a matter of time until the bill passes.
"While other MKs are busy with a legislation that achieves nothing, I'm constantly busy transferring budgets to promote education, welfare and health among others in the LGBT community," Ben-Ari added.
The plenum was short of merely three votes last Wednesday to approve the same-sex civil union bill in a preliminary reading, allowing gay couples to be joined together by civil marriage. The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Stav Shaffir of the Zionist Union.
The vote was held two days before a record number of 250,000 people from all over the world flooded Tel Aviv's streets celebrating the Gay Pride Parade.
Although lawmakers of Likud and other coalition factions had expressed support for the bill, they lined up with the coalition discipline at the expense of the LGBT community's rights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted Sunday, during his speech at the opening of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) conference, that Israel was the only country in the Middle East that accepted the LGBT community.
"I am very proud that we have a very, very bright, and rising star in our party, Amir Ohana, but there are others in other parties,” he said, in reference to Likud’s first openly gay lawmaker who is raising his twin children with his partner.
"(Israel) is the only state in the Middle East in which homosexuals walk freely in Tel Aviv's streets and are being represented in the Knesset," Netanyahu stated.
The prime minister chose not to mention, however, that the coalition rejected last week the same-sex civil union bill in its preliminary reading, with 38 MKs backing it and 41 opposing.
Kulanu MK Yifat Shasha-Biton, chairwoman of the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child, told Ynet she voted against the bill due to coalition discipline. "I'm all in favor for a person to live according to his belief and (sexual) inclination," she said.
"However, I (also) believe in practicality and do my best to be realistic and choose my battles. I hope that someday (the bill) will be backed by the majority in the Knesset as well as among the citizens," she explained.
Likud MK Amir Ohana, who is openly gay, did not attend the vote since he was a broad, but wrote a post on Facebook denying the rumors implying he had voted against the bill.
"I don't really know how to deal with lies, but I see a few of them of going around," Ohana said. "I'm in Paris, attending a conference about the war on terror. The rumor that is going around that I voted against the same-sex civil union bill is a lie.
"I've never voted against any bill concerning the LGBT community since my first day in the Knesset, even when it was the coalition's obligatory stance," Ohana added.
"I've been voting in favor of bills concerning the LGBT community and against the coalition's stance for over a year, since my coalition rebellion," he elaborated.
"One can criticize me and say I have to deal with more LGBT-related matters (even if it's like fighting windmills in light of this coalition), one can demand that I be a better gay, just stop lying," Ohana implored.
Ynet turned to a few other coalition members who had voted against the bill and had shown support of the LGBT community on a number of occasions, but they chose not to comment on the matter.
The bill's initiator, MK Shaffir, told Ynet: "This was the closest fight we've had over a bill (concerning the LGBT community).
"(The same-sex civil union) bill could have made same-sex marriage in Israel a reality—something that is already supposed to be a given. Almost all of the Western world's countries have joined over the past few years to the list of countries enabling same-sex unions," Shaffir explained.
"Israel is officially signaling the world something completely different. The Ministry of Tourism wanted to spend NIS 12 million last year to promote gay tourism in Israel, but when it comes to voting, things suddenly look completely different, and other MKs who publicly stated they would vote in favor of the bill surprisingly vanished from the plenum (when the time to vote came)," she lashed out.
"I don't recall the ten amendments including coalition discipline. What is this? Is this a law coming from the sky? MKs go to the Knesset to promote their policies. The bill's biggest opponents are the Bayit Yehudi's members and not the members of the ultra-Orthodox parties," she lamented.
"One of the most infuriating things is that during the vote the Kulanu's MKs who promised to back the bill and protect the equality and the democracy (voted against the bill-ed)," Shffir decried.
"Kulanu has promised the public a lot. Certain MKs said loud and clear, on television, that they would support same-sex marriage. Several Likud's MKs also vowed they would vote in favor of any bill concerning promoting the LGBT community," the Zionist Union MK recalled.
"We heard those promises made in public, but in the moment of truth those MKs who display a liberal facade, just ran away," she opined.
"Kulanu MK Meirav Ben-Ari promised to vote in favor of the bill as well as MK Roy Folkman (but they didn't-ed). I would expect MK Orly Levy and Likud's MK Sharren Haskel to also back the bill (however it didn't happen-ed)," she concluded.
When Shaffir was asked whether those MKs who had not backed the bill were hypocrites, she said "absolutely."
"I think people have to realize that when they go into politics they do it in order to keep their promises. They work for the public, not for (Bayit Yehudi MK) Bezalel Smotrich or (United Torah Judaism MK) Yaakov Litzman "
MK Meirav Ben-Ari said in response that she didn't back the bill, but she didn't offset for an MK's absence either. "That's why the vote was so close. I'm sure it's a matter of time until the bill passes.
"While other MKs are busy with a legislation that achieves nothing, I'm constantly busy transferring budgets to promote education, welfare and health among others in the LGBT community," Ben-Ari added.
The North Korean account, whose authenticity Haaretz could not confirm, responded to a video published by the Israeli premier on Twitter offering Iran water tech.
Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman responded on Monday to an insult tweeted by an account claiming to belong to the North Korean foreign minister.
In a tweet, Ri Yong-Ho called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "Stinking Zionist," blasting the premier for killing the people of Gaza. The tweets by the minister were made from an unverified account, and Haaretz could not independently confirm its authenticity.
The statement was made in response to a video published on Netanyahu's account on Sunday.
Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon responded to the North Korean tweet: "On the bright side- you follow us on Twitter and react. On the negative side- you insult us with no reason."
Nahshon insisted Israel is a peace seeking nation, "defending itself against a brutal and hate filled Iranian regime seeking our destruction."
The Twitter account does not have a verified icon, and has only 2,000 followers. A senior expert on North Korea told Haaretz he is not familiar with the account. Furthermore, renowned research organizations specializing in North Korea are not among the followers.
In the video, Netanyahu takes a sip from a glass of water before alerting that Iran is facing a drought. He then accuses the regime led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of using the country's resources for malign purposes and of neglecting its people.
In the response, a tweet in the account claiming to belong to Yong-Ho dismissed Netanyahu as a "criminal/liar" who wouldn't deliver on his promise. "Meanwhile he can't be bothered giving water to Gaza; he kills them instead."
The Twitter exchange was made as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea were preparing for a summit Tuesday in Singapore aimed at getting Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.
This is not the first time Israel and North Korea have traded rhetorical barbs. In 2017, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview to the Walla! news site that the country's sole goal was "undermining global stability," and called its leadership "a crazy and radical group."
In response, a statement released by the North Korean Foreign Ministry called Avigdor Lieberman's statement "reckless" and a form of "sordid and wicked behavior" that posed a "grave challenge to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
In January 2015, North Korea fumed at Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the so-called DPRK of "enforcing merciless and radical dictatorship," while on a visit to Japan. Calling Netanyahu's remarks "an unpardonable insult," North Korea charged at the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
North Korea has also criticized Israel on other occasions, charging at its settlements in the West Bank, its conduct during the 2014 war in Gaza and at alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
North Korea is considered one of the world's most hostile nations toward Israel. In the last decades, it has provided training, arms and various technologies to entities considered enemies of the Jewish state, including Iran, whose missile program benefitted greatly from North Korean assistance.
Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman responded on Monday to an insult tweeted by an account claiming to belong to the North Korean foreign minister.
In a tweet, Ri Yong-Ho called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "Stinking Zionist," blasting the premier for killing the people of Gaza. The tweets by the minister were made from an unverified account, and Haaretz could not independently confirm its authenticity.
The statement was made in response to a video published on Netanyahu's account on Sunday.
Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon responded to the North Korean tweet: "On the bright side- you follow us on Twitter and react. On the negative side- you insult us with no reason."
Nahshon insisted Israel is a peace seeking nation, "defending itself against a brutal and hate filled Iranian regime seeking our destruction."
The Twitter account does not have a verified icon, and has only 2,000 followers. A senior expert on North Korea told Haaretz he is not familiar with the account. Furthermore, renowned research organizations specializing in North Korea are not among the followers.
In the video, Netanyahu takes a sip from a glass of water before alerting that Iran is facing a drought. He then accuses the regime led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of using the country's resources for malign purposes and of neglecting its people.
In the response, a tweet in the account claiming to belong to Yong-Ho dismissed Netanyahu as a "criminal/liar" who wouldn't deliver on his promise. "Meanwhile he can't be bothered giving water to Gaza; he kills them instead."
The Twitter exchange was made as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea were preparing for a summit Tuesday in Singapore aimed at getting Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.
This is not the first time Israel and North Korea have traded rhetorical barbs. In 2017, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in an interview to the Walla! news site that the country's sole goal was "undermining global stability," and called its leadership "a crazy and radical group."
In response, a statement released by the North Korean Foreign Ministry called Avigdor Lieberman's statement "reckless" and a form of "sordid and wicked behavior" that posed a "grave challenge to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."
In January 2015, North Korea fumed at Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the so-called DPRK of "enforcing merciless and radical dictatorship," while on a visit to Japan. Calling Netanyahu's remarks "an unpardonable insult," North Korea charged at the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
North Korea has also criticized Israel on other occasions, charging at its settlements in the West Bank, its conduct during the 2014 war in Gaza and at alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
North Korea is considered one of the world's most hostile nations toward Israel. In the last decades, it has provided training, arms and various technologies to entities considered enemies of the Jewish state, including Iran, whose missile program benefitted greatly from North Korean assistance.
8 june 2018
US Senator Bernie Sanders criticized US administration policy in the Middle East, and Palestine in particular, accusing Washington of being partial to the Israeli side.
Sanders, in an open meeting organized by The Washington Post, Wednesday evening, called for finding a solution to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging Washington to work for that goal.
He said that it is unacceptable that about 2 million Palestinian in Gaza live with dirty water and an unemployment rate, among the youth, that has risen to 60 %, while people can not even leave the region.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Nedia Agency, he also criticized Israeli government policy towards Palestinians, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thwarted the aspiration of a two-state solution by building more and more settlements.
He stressed that US administration must recognize Palestinian human rights to freedom and independence.
He explained that US must follow an unbiased policy in the Middle East, and is not doing so, presently.
Bernie Sanders is Jewish and ran for office during the 2016 US presidential election.
Sanders accused US President Donald Trump of constantly lying to the American people: He promised to withdraw from Afghanistan but he did not. He criticized the war in Iraq, but, then, brought in John Bolton as National Security Adviser.
Sanders called for reducing the US defense budget, saying that he voted against increasing the budget, in Congress.
Sanders, in an open meeting organized by The Washington Post, Wednesday evening, called for finding a solution to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging Washington to work for that goal.
He said that it is unacceptable that about 2 million Palestinian in Gaza live with dirty water and an unemployment rate, among the youth, that has risen to 60 %, while people can not even leave the region.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Nedia Agency, he also criticized Israeli government policy towards Palestinians, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thwarted the aspiration of a two-state solution by building more and more settlements.
He stressed that US administration must recognize Palestinian human rights to freedom and independence.
He explained that US must follow an unbiased policy in the Middle East, and is not doing so, presently.
Bernie Sanders is Jewish and ran for office during the 2016 US presidential election.
Sanders accused US President Donald Trump of constantly lying to the American people: He promised to withdraw from Afghanistan but he did not. He criticized the war in Iraq, but, then, brought in John Bolton as National Security Adviser.
Sanders called for reducing the US defense budget, saying that he voted against increasing the budget, in Congress.
22 may 2018
Fox Keller: Israel makes me ashamed of being a Jew
One of the winners of the 2018 Dan David Prize (prestigious Israeli award) decided to give the prize money to three Israeli human rights organizations defending the rights of the Palestinians.
82-year-old American Jewish professor Evelyn Fox Keller, one of nine people who received the award at Tel Aviv University Sunday night, told Haaretz newspaper she would give the money to B’Tselem, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Physicians for Human Rights.
According to Haaretz, the scientist and feminist thinker said “the moment she found out she had won the prize, she decided she could accept it only if she gave the money to organizations combating Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.”
Asked why she did not just refuse the prize, since it is granted by an Israeli university which is part of the Israeli political system, she replied, “I didn’t see it that way. I am accepting the prize in support of people who resist the system. I didn’t see what would be served by turning it down. As a political statement, it is stronger if I take the prize and give it away.”
The interview with Fox Keller took place last Thursday, less than 24 hours after she landed in Israel.
She also told Haaretz that 10 years ago when she visited Israel she had said then that Israeli violations against the Palestinians made her feel ashamed of being Jewish.
“I said [then that] Israel makes me ashamed of being a Jew,” she added. “Yes, I feel the same today.”
One of the winners of the 2018 Dan David Prize (prestigious Israeli award) decided to give the prize money to three Israeli human rights organizations defending the rights of the Palestinians.
82-year-old American Jewish professor Evelyn Fox Keller, one of nine people who received the award at Tel Aviv University Sunday night, told Haaretz newspaper she would give the money to B’Tselem, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Physicians for Human Rights.
According to Haaretz, the scientist and feminist thinker said “the moment she found out she had won the prize, she decided she could accept it only if she gave the money to organizations combating Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.”
Asked why she did not just refuse the prize, since it is granted by an Israeli university which is part of the Israeli political system, she replied, “I didn’t see it that way. I am accepting the prize in support of people who resist the system. I didn’t see what would be served by turning it down. As a political statement, it is stronger if I take the prize and give it away.”
The interview with Fox Keller took place last Thursday, less than 24 hours after she landed in Israel.
She also told Haaretz that 10 years ago when she visited Israel she had said then that Israeli violations against the Palestinians made her feel ashamed of being Jewish.
“I said [then that] Israel makes me ashamed of being a Jew,” she added. “Yes, I feel the same today.”
12 may 2018
Hebrew TV channel 10 reported that Israel on Friday foiled plans for a European Union (EU) statement condemning the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
