The European Union has been subsidizing activities of the
Peace Now movement in Israel among immigrants from the C.I.S
and development town residents. Peace Now defines these
activities as "political education." Ha'aretz relates
that these facts were confirmed by spokesmen of the European
Union delegation in Israel, David Kris and Dr. Janet
Aviad.
In the report of Peace Now activities for 1998, movement
officials wrote that the funds received from the Union for
activity among immigrants were used for two main purposes:
a) distribution of explanatory material such as notices in
newspapers, posters and stickers; b) organization of
meetings between immigrants and Palestinians.
David Kris has confirmed that the Union has been subsidizing
such activities since 1995, yet refused to say how much
money was involved. Kris stressed, "We don't support Peace
Now political demonstrations, but merely dialogues between
immigrants and Palestinians as well as Peace Now work with
new immigrants. We explain the connection between their
financial situation and the lack of progress in the peace
process."
Regarding the question of why the European Union is involved
in controversial political activity in Israel, Kris
responded: "We regard Peace Now not as a political movement,
but as a movement for peace. We support it as we would
support other peace movements, such as B'Tzelem, as part of
the European Union's ideal to promote peace in the
region."
Dr. Aviad says: "The European Union has been subsidizing
`political education' activities in Israel for many years,
Including projects to change views among sectors whose views
are not initially close to ours, such as new immigrants and
residents of the development towns. The Union doesn't
subsidize any of our political activities."
