EU to stop funding for Jewish settlements

The European Union Friday published on its Official Journal guidelines that will bar funding projects connected to Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. "These guidelines set out the conditions under which the (European) Commission will implement key requirements for the award of EU support to Israeli entities or to their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967," noted an EU statement. "Their aim is to ensure the respect of EU positions and commitments in conformity with international law on the non-recognition by the EU of Israel's sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. The territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 comprise the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," it said. "The EU does not recognise Israel's sovereignty over any of the territories referred to in point 2 and does not consider them to be part of Israel's territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law. The EU has made it clear that it will not recognise any changes to pre-1967 borders, other than those agreed by the parties to the Middle East Peace Process," it clarified. These guidelines apply to EU support in the form of grants, prizes or financial instruments. In the case of grants and prizes, only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel's pre-1967 borders will be considered eligible, stressed the EU. In the case of financial instruments, only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel's pre-1967 borders will be considered eligible as final recipients. The European Commission will also endeavour to have the content of these guidelines reflected in international agreements or protocols thereto or Memoranda of Understanding with Israeli counterparts or with other parties, it added.