Israel threatens to bloc EU from peace process if criticism of Netanyahu's government continues

Thursday April 30, 2009 11:48 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

An official at the Israeli occupation government foreign ministry warned that Israel would block the European Union from participating in the Middle East peace process with the Palestinians if the EU does not stop its criticism of Israel.

Israel online daily, Haaretz, reported that Israel is mainly targeting Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU’s External Affairs Commissioner, who called on the EU not to upgrade its ties with Israel due to its Middle East peace process policies.

 Haaretz added that Israel already informed a number of European ambassadors on its position. The first two ambassadors who were informed were French ambassador, Jean-Michel Casa, and Britain’s ambassador, Tom Phillips.

Israel also made its decision known to the German embassy.

 Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation government defense minister, Ehud Barak, who committed war crimes in Gaza,  slammed the EU for its positions and singled Ferrero-Waldner.

Barak said that the statements of Ferrero-Waldner were troubling “in form, style and timing”.

He told EU diplomats that Israel has been telling EU officials that it needs some time to reformulate its polices, added that the EU “should not start a media war on Israel”.

Barak further stated that Israel wants the EU to be part of the Middle East peace process, but added that the Europe should keep the talks “matures and discreet instead of resorting to statements to the media”.

“Should EU officials continue their declarations and criticism, Europe will not be part of the peace process”,   Barak said.

Barak also sent a telegram to Israeli embassies in Europe informing them of his position. He also said that EU ambassadors, except for the French ambassador, did not back Ferrero-Waldner.

Ferrero-Waldner is also under pressure from some EU countries as they believe her statements are sabotaging Israeli-European relations.

Commerce chamber: The unemployment rate in Gaza reached 65 percent

[ 30/04/2009 - 08:22 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Palestinian chamber of commerce reported Wednesday that the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip reached 65 percent and the poverty rate rose by 80 percent, warning that these percentages are apt to increase in light of the continued Israeli siege on the Strip.

In a report, the commerce chamber stated that the total number of the unemployed in Gaza amounted to about 200,000 workers according to official economic statistics.

The report also said that 85 percent of Gaza citizens depend on humanitarian aid provided by relief organizations such as the UNRWA and the world food program.

The report added that all production activities stopped as a result of the Israeli closure of crossings and the lack of raw materials necessary for the operation of factories, where 96 percent of industrial installations shut down.