By Linda Gradstein/The Media Line

The European Union (EU) has issued a directive to all of its 28 member states that forbids any form of cooperation, including funding, scholarships, and research grants, to any Israelis residing in areas that Israel acquired in 1967, meaning the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

The regulation, which goes into effect on Friday, means that any contract between EU member countries and Israel or and Israeli entity must include a clause that specifically asserts that those areas are not part of the state of Israel, a senior Israeli official told The Media Line.

“This has always been their position and they’re entitled to their position,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. “But now they’re trying to ram their position down our throats and that’s not acceptable to any Israeli government.”

He said Israeli government officials were particularly angry at not being given an opportunity to discuss the matter before the directive was issued.

“They handed us the document a few days back and said they wanted to have a dialogue but that it will be adopted and is irreversible,” the Israeli official said. “What kind of dialogue is that? It’s a mockery of a dialogue.”

An EU official told The Media Line that their position has always been consistent.

“These are guidelines that reinforce already existing policy,” the EU official said. “All agreements with the EU apply to Israel proper and not to the occupied territories. We believe that ‘settlements’ are illegal under international law despite Israel’s claim of sovereignty there.”

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