Israel Matzav

Spain pays for 42 'activists' to violate Israeli building codes

The government of Spain, which just last month was discovered to be financing Breaking the Silence, which presented unsourced hearsay accounts of Operation Cast Lead to the world media, is now financing a two-week trip for 42 'activists' to rebuild two homes in Jerusalem that were demolished because they were built without a permit.

Jeff Halper, the director of the Israel Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), which is holding its seventh annual summer "rebuilding camp," said volunteers from all over Europe, Latin America, Spain, the United States, South Africa, Asia, and Australia are currently in the country to rebuild two homes demolished in Anata.

"In particular, there are about 42 people from Spain in the camp, and the Spanish government is funding the camp again this year. They have paid for the 42 tickets of young people to come to the work camp, so that is pretty interesting that governments are starting to encourage people to come and resist the occupation," Halper told The Jerusalem Post.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry's agency for international development cooperation, Aecid, allocated some €80,000 in 2009 to ICAHD. In addition, it allocated €80,000 this year for Breaking the Silence, €100,000 for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, and has promised to allocate €70,000 for Rabbis for Human Rights.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev slammed the involvement of European governments in the Anata project.

"Europe believes in peace and reconciliation, in a two-state solution with a non-violent path to that solution," he said. "It would indeed be strange if European money were going to an NGO headed by an individual who both rejects a two-state solution, and who justifies terrorism."

Regev was referring to past comments and writings by Halper, a veteran activist on the extreme Left.

One Israeli-based Spanish diplomat, who did not know the details of the camp, had no comment on the matter. He said that while there were discussions with Israel following Jerusalem Post revelations last month that Spain was helping to fund Breaking the Silence, Spain did not receive any formal request from Israel to stop funding that organization or any other NGO.

First of all, if we haven't made formal requests from the Euroweenies to stop financing NGO activities that undermine Israeli rule perhaps we ought to do so.

But second, Mark Regev is fooling himself if he really believes that "Europe believes in peace and reconciliation, in a two-state solution with a non-violent path to that solution." European anti-Semitism is as active as ever. Look at the signs at demonstrations in Europe today. Look at the 'activists' who try to keep Israeli products out of European stores. Look at at the demands that we release terrorists.

Does anyone seriously believe that Europe doesn't hate us? Does anyone seriously believe that Europe would be upset if the Jewish state of Israel became the Arab state of 'Palestine' tomorrow morning? Has anything really changed in the last 65 years in Europe? We are a scourge of shame on Europe - a black mark. If we go away, they will have one less thing to be embarrassed about.

As to Jeff Halper, he's beneath contempt.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:59 AM