"Israel" Provided No Evidence of "Terrorist" Claims against Palestinian NGOs, EU FM
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The six Palestinian organizations that Security Minister Benny Gantz branded as "terrorist" organizations last month have received EU funding.
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Israeli military court dismissed a claim by "Israel's" security and foreign ministries.
Nearly a month after "Israel" declared six Palestinian civil society organizations as "terrorist" organizations, it has not yet offered any evidence in support of its claims, stated the European Union's foreign policy leader.
The six organizations, which Security Minister Benny Gantz labeled as "terrorist" groups last month, actually get EU financing.
The EU foreign affairs representative, Josep Borrell, stated at a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, an international donor group for the Palestinian Authority, that the EU is looking for explanations, but had not received solid evidence.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with the United States' UN envoy and affirmed to her that the Palestinian Authority is firmly opposed to "Israel's" designation of the groups as "terrorist" organizations.
An Israeli military court had dismissed a claim by "Israel's" security and foreign ministries on Tuesday about a connection between a Spanish woman and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which "Israel" hoped to use as justification for labeling the organizations as "terrorist".
Israeli new cabinet criticized
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh slammed "Israel's" new cabinet at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in Norway.
He criticized Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's approach to the Palestinian Authority, which he claimed was transmitted in "three nos:" according to those present at the meeting. No talks with the Palestinian Authority, no meeting with Abbas, and no two-state solution.
Shtayyeh also slammed Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's idea, which consists of "economic benefits in exchange for security."
He said that "if we deal with Gaza separately, we’ll have to deal separately with al-Khalil, the Jordan Valley, and every other place. There needs to be a comprehensive solution."
Shtayyeh added that the PA is in deep crisis, partly because of the coronavirus pandemic. "Independent states could borrow money from the World Bank or print money or raise funds in the private market," he said, "we couldn’t do this since we’re not an independent state."
Norway urges donors to increase aid to Palestinians
Today, Wednesday, Norway, which chairs the donors' group for Palestine, urged the international community to increase its aid to the Palestinians, which has fallen to an "alarming" level as described by the Foreign Minister.
"I have called on donors to increase their assistance," Norwegian Foreign Minister Anneken Hoytfeldt said after the donors' group meeting for Palestine in Oslo, the first face-to-face meeting in two years.
The Minister did not mention any financial commitments made during this meeting.
