The Knesset
Jerusalem, 6 Tamuz, 5761
27 June, 2001

To: PM Guy Verhofstadt
President of the European Union

It has been made public in Israel that the European Union has been providing financial support to Israeli groups/institutions/organizations that are all partisan and political in nature. This is a blatant attempt at interfering in the internal affairs of the State of Israel. Attached is a list of these organizations.

The European Union represents democratic states. Its democratic character is an inherent part of its nature. As such, it should refrain from any attempt to influence the internal democratic process of another democratic state.

We, the undersigned members of the Israeli Knesset, would like to express our shock and outrage at this attempt at achieving political purposes by extending financial support to Israeli citizens and groups.

As the elected representatives of a democratic, free society, we strongly oppose such attempts at influencing our state’s domestic politics and the policies of our government, by financial means.

In light of the gravity of these activities, we expect the European Union to take the following measures:

Discontinue the financial support to Israeli non-profit organizations that are politically oriented;

Publicly disclose the list of Israeli groups/institutions/organizations which receive financial support from the European Union. The citizens of Israel will thus be informed as to those organizations that are influenced by, or are serving foreign interests, and EU member-states will be apprised of the objectives of the of the expenditure of their money.

Considering that the European Union is a democratic institution, that represents free and democratic nations, we are certain that it will act out of similar respect for the sovereignty and freedom of the State of Israel.

Respectfully yours,

No./Title/Name/Faction in the Knesset

  1. Minister Nissim Dahan-Shas
  2. Minister Uzi Landau-Likud
  3. Minister Avigdor Liberman-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  4. Minister Limor Livnat-Likud
  5. Minister Reuven Rivlin-Likud
  6. Minister Natan Sharansky-Israel Ba’aliya
  7. Minister Eliyahu Suissa-Shas
  8. Minister Rehavam Ze’evy-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  9. Deputy Minister David Azoulay-Shas
  10. Deputy Minister Naomi Blumentha-lLikud
  11. Deputy Minister Yitzhak Cohen-Shas
  12. Deputy Minister Yuli-Yoel Edelstein-Israel Ba’aliya
  13. Deputy Minister Gideon Ezra-Likud
  14. Deputy Minister Meshulam Nahari-Shas
  15. Deputy Minister Abraham Ravitz-Yahadut Hatora
  16. Deputy Minister Yuri Shtern-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  17. Deputy Minister Yitzhak Vaknin-Shas
  18. MK Moshe Arens-Likud
  19. MK Yigal Bibi-National Religious Party
  20. MK Ze’ev Boim-Likud
  21. MK Amnon Cohen-Shas
  22. MK Eliezer Cohen-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  23. MK Haim Druckman-National Religious Party
  24. MK Michael Eitan-Likud
  25. MK Binyamin Elon-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  26. MK Moshe Gafni-Yahadut Hatora
  27. MK Yitzhak Gagula-Shas
  28. MK Arieh Gamliel-Shas
  29. MK Shmuel Halpert-Yahadut Hatora
  30. MK Zvi Hendel-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  31. MK Abraham Hirchzon-Likud
  32. MK Ofer Hugi-Shas
  33. MK Ayoob Kara-Likud
  34. MK Haim Katz-Am Echad
  35. MK Michael Kleiner-Herut
  36. MK Yechiel Lasry-Merkaz
  37. MK Maxim Levy-Gesher
  38. MK Yakov Litzman-Yahadut Hatora
  39. MK David Magen-Merkaz
  40. MK Rahamim Melloul-Shas
  41. MK Mordechai Mishani-Gesher
  42. MK Michael Nudelman-National Union-Israel Beiteinu
  43. MK Zevulun Orlev-National Religious Party
  44. MK Yair Peretz-Shas
  45. MK Meir Porush-Yahadut Hatora
  46. MK Ganady Riger-Israel Ba’aliya
  47. MK Itchak Saban-Shas
  48. MK Yuval Shteinitz-Likud
  49. MK Marina Solodkin-Israel Ba’aliya
  50. MK David Tal-Shas
  51. MK Shaul Yahalom-National Religious Party
  52. MK Nissim Zeev-Shas

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