The spokesperson of the European External Action Service, Maja Kocijancic, and the Israeli Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs, Gilad Erdan, clashed on Wednesday 23 January via their Twitter account over the financing of NGOs by the European Union. Mr Erdan accused the EU of funding organisations that support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which Ms Kocijancic denied.
"The EU cannot claim to oppose the anti-Semitic BDS campaign, while sending millions in taxpayer money to BDS-promoting NGOs each year [...] The time for words is over. It’s time for action. Stop. Funding. BDS”, Mr Erdan said, highlighting a 34-page report from his ministry that estimates that every year the EU gives at least €5 million a year to NGOs promoting this movement.
These are words denounced by Ms Kocijancic. "EU funding to NGOs does NOT support incitement, terror, antisemitism or BDS actions. Any claim to the contrary is unfounded,” she said.
And while the EEAS spokesperson explained that the EU had proposed to the Minister to engage in a serious dialogue, a proposal that remained unanswered but still relevant, Mr Erdan said he was "happy to engage in a dialogue on this issue, as long as he was serious”. “I look forward to receiving a date from Ms Mogherini for such a dialogue, at her earliest convenience”, he added.
The EU delegation to Israel also reacted to Israeli criticism, saying that the allegations were “unfounded and unacceptable". While the EU rejects any attempt to isolate Israel, "simply because an organisation or individual is related to the BDS movement does not mean that this entity is involved in incitement to commit illegal acts, nor that it renders itself ineligible for EU funding", the delegation said. According to her, the EU is “firm” in protecting freedom of expression, "also applicable to information or ideas that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population”.
When asked by EUROPE about the monitoring of NGOs receiving EU funding, the EEAS had not, at the time of our closure, answered our questions. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)