Tag Archives: Israel
23 July 2013
On Thursday evening 13 June 2013, the third SHARES Debate entitled The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories: is there a responsibility for the Netherlands? was held in Amsterdam. This blog post will highlight parts of the debate.
Background
The continuing Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East-Jerusalem, and the expansion of settlements raise the question as to what the responsibility is of other states. Due to the asymmetry of this conflict, it would appear that it can only be resolved through the intervention of third parties.
This SHARES debate addressed the role of third states in general, and the Netherlands in particular. The focus on the Netherlands was justified not only because the Netherlands attaches great importance to the promotion of the international rule of law, but also because it maintains close relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. (more…)
22 July 2013
The EU announced the publication of guidelines explicitly banning EU funding of Israeli institutions operating in the occupied territories. Israel had opposed the directive saying it will hurt the peace process and Israeli ties with the EU.
A New York Times op-ed wrote that the hostile reaction in Israel has been stimulated by inaccurate reporting on the decision. According to an EU statement, the guidelines are a reiteration of a long-held position of the EU that it will not recognise border changes unless agreed by both parties, and the decision will not prejudge the outcome of peace negotiations. The guidelines only apply to programs of the EU, not its member states or trade, and they are estimated to affect only 0.5 percent of relevant EU project funding.
Source: European Union | Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the publication of guidelines on Israel and EU funding instruments | A 391/13 | 19 July 2013
Source: The New York Times | The E.U.’s New Guidelines on Israel Are Not a Boycott
Source: The Jerusalem Post | EU officially publishes settlement guidelines despite Israeli objections
17 July 2013
In an interview with CBS television, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his policy of keeping dangerous arms from reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon. While refusing to confirm or deny reported Israeli involvement in the attack on a Syrian missile depot on July 5, Netanyahu said Israel would stand by its policy of preventing the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups.
Israel has repeatedly maintained it would take action to prevent “game-changing weapons”, including advanced guided missiles, from reaching hostile militant groups. Following an Israeli airstrike on Damascus in May, President Assad vowed to retaliate if Israel struck Syrian territory again, but has not commented on the July attack.
Source: ABC News | Israeli Leader Vows to Keep Weapons From Hezbollah
17 July 2013
The Sunday Times reported that Israeli submarines are responsible for the attack on the missile depot in Latakia, Syria on 5 July. US officials were reported saying that the attack was an Israeli airstrike.
The alleged naval strike was reportedly coordinated with Pentagon that has expressed concerns over the Russian anti-ship missiles in Syria that could pose a threat to Israel’s naval forces and be used against Western ships transporting supplies to the opposition. Neither Israel nor the US has commented on the attack. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Netanyahu was reportedly insisting on Sunday that he would not allow the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Source: The Sunday Times | Israelis strike at Syrian missiles
Source: The New York Times | Israel Airstrike Targeted Advanced Missiles That Russia Sold to Syria, U.S. Says
Source: RT | Israeli submarine responsible for July attack on Syrian arms depot - report
12 June 2013
Documents leaked to the press on Friday 7 June on the US-run covert intelligence-gathering operation, entitled PRISM, reveal that the UK security agency GCHQ has gathered secret digital information through the program at least since June of 2010. According to the US National Security Agency (NSA), the service has also been made available to spy organizations from other countries, but did it not specify which ones. According to Reuters, Germany has not received any PRISM data.
The revelation on the NSA operation has triggered criticism in European capitals, including Dutch, German and Italian officials that denounced the practice of gathering secret data from the world’s largest internet companies as unacceptable and illegal under EU laws. Following denials from Facebook and Google that the companies are giving direct government access to their servers, reports suggested on Friday that Israeli companies may have been involved in wiretapping US telecommunications networks, which would allow the NSA to access data through major internet service providers.
Source: The Guardian | NSA snooping: Obama under pressure as senator denounces 'act of treason'
Source: The Guardian | UK gathering secret intelligence via covert NSA operation
Source: Reuters | UPDATE 1-U.S. surveillance revelations deepen European fears of Web giants
Source: The Daily Dot | Does the NSA's PRISM spying program violate EU law?
Source: GIGAOM | Europeans call for answers over U.S. web spying allegations
Source: Business Insider | DID YOU KNOW?: Two Secretive Israeli Companies Reportedly Bugged The US Telecommunications Grid For The NSA