EU proposes cutting Israeli access to research funds; Israel: ‘Regrettable and unjustified’

The European Commission proposes partially suspending Israel’s access to the Horizon research funding program, following calls from EU governments to increase pressure on Israel over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

“While Israel has announced a daily humanitarian pause in Gaza fighting… the situation remains severe,” the European Commission says in a statement. “The proposed suspension is a targeted and reversible action.”

Brussels says the proposal will mean halting access to funding for Israeli start-ups involved in fields that include drone technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Last year, Israel was in the top three countries for the number of companies vying for funding, along with Germany and France.

The suggestion will be discussed by the EU’s 27 countries tomorrow, and would need the approval of the majority of member states to go into force.

Responding to the move, the Foreign Ministry calls the recommendation “mistaken, regrettable, and unjustified.”

“At a time when Israel is fighting Hamas’s jihadist terrorism, any such decision only serves to strengthen Hamas and therefore undermines the chances of reaching a ceasefire and a framework for the release of hostages,” says the Foreign Ministry.

“Israel will work to ensure that this recommendation is not adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council, and we hope that will indeed be the case. Either way, Israel will not yield to pressure when it comes to its national interests,” adds the ministry.

Multiple EU countries said last week that Israel was not living up to common understandings that had been reached on increasing aid supplies to Gaza, and asked the Commission to put concrete options on the table.