Israel criticises EU accusation of aid seizure as 1 sided

The Israeli government on Sunday slammed as "one sided" the European Union's accusation that Israeli soldiers seized Palestinian aid from European diplomats in the West Bank. Paul Hirschson, a spokesperson of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua that the goal of the European diplomats was not to aid but to provoke. "Explanation from the diplomats and their government is demanded," Hirschson added. On Friday, some European diplomats and some activists tried to help residents of Khirbet Al-Makhul village in the Jordan Valley in the West Bank to rebuild their dismantled tents. Later, a Palestinian video surfaced on Youtube showing soldiers manhandling the diplomats and activists and throwing a sound grenade toward them. A Reuters reporter on the spot said the soldiers dragged French diplomat Marion Castaing and forced her to the ground. But Hirschson said that the French diplomat is seen on an Israeli military video punching an Israeli soldier. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva deplored in a statement Saturday "the confiscation of humanitarian assistance" by "Israeli security forces." "EU representatives have already contacted the Israeli authorities to demand an explanation and expressed their concern at the incident," it added. An official statement by Israel's Foreign Ministry slammed Ashton's announcement, saying it "ignores the European diplomats' blunt violation of the law, their disregard to an Israeli court ruling and their unnecessary provocation under the alleged pretext of humanitarian aid." A spokesperson with the Israel Defense Force (IDF) told Xinhua that the attempt by the diplomats and the activists to erect the tents was "illegal" as they were dismantled Monday following a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court. "At the site, Palestinian and foreign activists violently objected (the ruling), throwing stones and striking law enforcement officers," the spokesperson added. "The IDF contained the violence ..., seized the tents and detained three Palestinians. " The Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on Sunday that Israel's National Security Adviser, Yaakov Amidror, is holding discussions to decide whether to declare Castaing a persona non grata. However, according to Hirschson, there is no decision on what to do about her yet.