Israel accuses EU funding groups of backing BDS

Israel is accusing the European Union of financing organizations that promote boycotts of Israel.

Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs says in a new report that certain non-governmental groups that support the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel receive EU funding.

Although the EU opposes the boycott movement, the ministry says “insufficient oversight” by the EU has allowed some of these groups to use European funds for boycott activities. The ministry estimates the figure amounts to millions of euros per year.

The EU says claims that it supports “incitement or terror, or condoning anti-Semitism, are unfounded and unacceptable.” The EU says it rejects “any attempts to isolate Israel and (does) not support calls for boycott, nor fund actions that are related to boycott activities.”

— AP