Europe: "EU people believe that the way to Israelis’ hearts is by spitting in their faces"

Via European Jewish Press:

"For reasons unknown, the EU people believe that the way to Israelis’ hearts is by spitting in their faces," said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon as he reacted to the decision  of the new EU ambassador in Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, to  mark International Human Rights Day on Thursday together with the human rights organization B’Tselem.

The event will feature an exhibition of photographs marking "50 years of Israeli occupation" and sparked a fierce condemnation from Israel.

In his comments, the Israeli spokesperson said "we are again seeing the same patronizing approach of preaching hypocritical, condescending morality, that just pushes away rather than bringing closer. It is sad and superfluous."

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said that Israel has "been threatened by Palestinian terror for over 100 years" and that "unfortunately, the EU has not investigated the Palestinian Authority’s education system, which raises children to be ready to kill innocent civilians." She further added that "whoever wants to look into human rights should begin with the Palestinian education system."

Minister of Education Naftali Bennet, leader of the Habayit Hayeudi party, slammed the European Union which, he said, "loses no opportunity to needle the State of Israel and persists in its unilateral ways." "This attitude makes the EU a less relevant player by the day."

The comments by Israeli officials came ahead of a visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Brussels next Monday for a rare meeting with the 28 EU Foreign Ministers. (...)

Israel’s government accuses groups such as B’Tselem of unfairly tarnishing the country’s image for political reasons.

In April, Netanyahu cancelled talks with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, after the visiting diplomat declined to call off meetings with rights groups critical of Israel’s government, including B’Tselem.

In February, the Belgian Ambassador to Israel was summoned for a dressing down in the Foreign Ministry over a visit by his country’s Prime Minister, Charles Michel, with representatives of two left-wing Israeli rights organizations, including B’Tselem, despite a direct appeal by Prime Minister Netanyahu to Belgium to end its support to groups damaging the reputation of Israel.

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