Israel to halt cooperation with EU representatives in West Bank, Gaza

In response to the European Union(EU)'s new guidelines to sanction Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Israel has decided to halt all cooperation with EU representatives in the West Bank and Gaza, Israeli media and officials said Friday. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has instructed the coordinator of government activities in the occupied territories, Eitan Dangot, to limit the movement of EU representatives in Area C, zones in the West Bank which are under full Israeli control, and the Gaza Strip, an official source with the Defense Ministry confirmed to Xinhua Friday. "It includes a total freeze on EU projects or cooperation (with the EU) and the issuing of permission (for EU personnel) to enter Area C or Gaza," the source said, adding that this new instruction will stay in effect "until further notice." The EU is funding many projects in Area C and Gaza. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel Defense Forces' offices in the West Bank, such as the civil administration, will no longer hold work meetings with EU officials or personnel. Last Tuesday, the European Commission published new guidelines, according to which in every agreement signed by a government or a company based in an EU-member state and Israel, there should a clause saying the agreement should not be applied to the West Bank, East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights, territories that were occupied by Israel in 1967. The new Israeli move adds to harsh condemnation by Israeli officials and other measures by its security establishment.