NEW YORK- The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has strongly criticized the European Community for interfering in Israel’s internal affairs by providing millions of dollars in aid to leftwing extremist organizations in Israel.

According to documents obtained by the ZOA, the European Community’s recent grants include:

* Peace Now - 1 million European pounds (’E') Peace Now lobbies for complete Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders, redivision of Jerusalem, and the establishment of an armed Palestinian Arab state. Peace Now spokesmen have publicly justified Arab violence against Israelis in Judea-Samaria-Gaza.

* Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions - 385,000 E The ICAHD lobbies against the dismantling of illegally-built Palestinian Arab homes. Its spokesmen have publicly compared Israeli policies to the policies of Nazi Germany.

* Ir Shalem - 250,000 E Ir Shalem advocates the redivision of Jerusalem, and lobbies to prevent Jews from purchasing property in the Old City section of Jerusalem and its environs.

* Foundation for Middle East Peace - 310,000 E The FMEP is, according to the Anti-Defamation League, “anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian.” The FMEP has given funds to the anti-Zionist group “American Jewish Alternatives to Zionism, Inc.” and to the magazine Washington Report for Middle East Affairs, which U.S. Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) has described as “extremely anti-Semitic and filled with messages of hate and bigotry.”

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein wrote: “The European Community’s blatant interference in Israel’s internal affairs, by funding extremist groups that support the Arabs’ positions, is yet more proof that Israel cannot rely on the Europeans to serve as peacekeepers or even neutral observers in the Middle East. The Europeans’ pro-Arab bias is blatant and immoral.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 24th, 2001 and is filed under opinion.