Israel calls in UK ambassador to 'discuss' boycott movement and aid to peace group

Hot on the heels of castigating the Dutch government, Israel is now demanding that the UK stop funding (£40k apparently, although Haaretz's report is not very clear) for the Breaking the Silence organisation of veteran and serving Israeli soldiers. Israel primarily summoned the UK ambassador in Tel Aviv to the talks to discuss boycott efforts by 'various British organisations'. The international solidarity movement has them worried.

Israel continues to ratchet up diplomatic pressure against European Union funding of a group that exposed what it described as war crimes perpetrated by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.

The deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry, Rafi Barak, expressed "concern" last week over Britain's financial contributions to "Breaking the Silence," an organization founded by IDF veterans which collects testimonies from soldiers serving in the Palestinian territories.

Barak communicated Israel's dissatisfaction over Britain's funding of the group during a meeting with London's ambassador to Tel Aviv, Tom Phillips.

Barak met with Phillips to discuss efforts by various British organizations to institute a boycott against Israel. During the meeting, Barak also raised the subject of funds which the British government channels to Breaking the Silence...

...Barak requested clarifications as to the reasons behind Britain's funding of the group and whether the money was used to fund the recent report on Operation Cast Lead.

According to information obtained by Barak, the British embassy in Tel Aviv received 40,000 pounds in 2008. Phillips [the UK ambassador to Israel] told Barak that the money transfer to the group presents no problem since Breaking the Silence is a legal organization.

Phillips added that the money was meant to fund the group's trips and activities in Hebron, and that none of the money was used for compiling and publishing its report on the Gaza war.
more at Haaretz

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