Israel Won’t Sign EU Guidelines

YERUSHALAYIM

Israel will refuse to sign new agreements with the EU which would require it to relinquish claims to Yehudah and Shomron, eastern Yerushalayim and the Golan, The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday quoting diplomatic sources.

In addition, Israel will seek clarification from EU officials on the new guidelines which ban member states from cooperating economically with entities over the Green Line. The EU said it will be flexible about the extent and implementation of the ban, and would discuss it with Israel before it takes effect next January.

The disclosure came after a meeting on Thursday convened by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and attended by Finance Minister Yair Lapid, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Education Minister Shai Peron, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Perry, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin.

A consensus was reported to exist among the ministers that the EU guidelines threaten significant to the peace process with the Palestinians, as well, which the Europeans are committed to supporting.

It was not immediately known whether Israel would participate in negotiations slated to open next Wednesday with the EU regarding its innovation flagship program, Horizon 2020. The program is looked upon as a valuable source of job creation and economic stimulus.

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