Israel to Join EU Cultural Program Despite Excluding Yehuda and Shomron

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – Israel plans to join a European Union-sponsored cultural program despite the exclusion of Israeli artists in Yehuda and Shomron from its activities, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Cabinet on Sunday approved participation in the E.U.’s Creative Europe program promoting cultural cooperation between artists in participating nations, anticipating a large investment in the Israeli cultural scene.

Israel, which reportedly pays a yearly admission fee of some €1.6 million, regards it as a venue for expanding cooperation with Europe generally, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Yossi Dagan, the Shomron Regional Council head, lashed out at the decision, which he said “disgraces the State of Israel, undermines Israel’s sovereignty and discriminates against artists [in Yehuda and Shomron.”

Dagan also rejected the Bennett-Lapid government’s claim that it is only doing what former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s previous government had with when the problem arose.

“The fact that other governments have done the same is not an excuse and not an appropriate answer,” Dagan said. “As long as this government is in power, it is responsible for its own actions.”