Netanyahu to Belgian PM: Cut funding for anti-Israel groups

•By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI

Prime Minister Benjamin Net- anyahu met with his Belgian counterpart, Charles Michel, on Tuesday, calling on him to cut his country’s support for anti-Israel organizations. In a meeting in Jerusalem, Net- anyahu asked that the Belgian government stop funding and indirectly backing organizations that “act against IDF soldiers and against the State of Israel.” This request follows Netanya- hu’s meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Lon- PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference with don a day earlier, in which he Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel yesterday in Jerusalem. (GPO) discussed her country’s support for organizations such as Break- tion ran one year ago, Shtulim The organization also posted a ing the Silence and asked her to (foreign agents), which aimed to sarcastic statement on its Face- reconsider funding them. raise awareness over the “threat book page with a picture of a seat Breaking the Silence, an NGO of intervention by foreign Euro- and the words “Reserved for Miri that provides anonymous testi- pean governments,” and said Regev” written on it. monies of soldiers which describe that since then there have been “Miri Regev, send us an SMS alleged IDF transgressions, has “positive developments.” when you are at the entrance – been at the center of controversy “Not only in terms of social we will try to save you a seat,” in recent months and has been awareness, but also internaliz- the post read. banned from both the Education ing the problem among decision Peleg also penned a letter to Ministry and the defense estab- makers and an understanding Barkat on Monday asking him to lishment. that we must put in place a wor- cancel the event. Following Netanyahu’s meet- thy policy and legal solution,” “This is not the first time that ing with May, Breaking the he said. the Barbur Gallery asks to use Silence took to Facebook and, in On Tuesday, Sports and Cul- public resources to provide a a message directed at the prime ture Minister Miri Regev called platform for anti-Israel views,” minister, wrote: “There is only on Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat he wrote. one way to stop us: End the occu- to cancel a planned lecture by He mentioned an event host- pation. Breaking the Silence, which is ed by the gallery two years ago “Among all the ‘important’ scheduled for Wednesday eve- that included an exhibit by Ir things that Bibi found right to ning at Jerusalem’s Barbur Gal- Amim, which he said present- discuss with the British prime lery, a nonprofit that receives ed “the personal stories of east minister, it seems he asked her municipal funding. Jerusalem citizens, while glori- to stop funding us... really!? Bibi, “The Barbur Gallery, which is fying the activities of convicted it’s a shame you wasted your wish funded from public money, will terrorists.” on us, because we have other not constitute a house for Break- Peleg said he is strongly sources of funding,” the organi- ing the Silence, an anti-Israel opposed to providing a platform, zation wrote. propaganda organization which based on public funding, to an Matan Peleg, CEO of right- spreads lies against the State organization dedicated to den- wing NGO Im Tirtzu, also issued of Israel and IDF fighters,” she igrating IDF soldiers and that a statement, saying that in the wrote on her Facebook page. works to undermine and dele- past few years the UK has “trans- Breaking the Silence CEO Yuli gitimize Israel’s standing in the ferred millions of dollars to polit- Novak is scheduled to speak at international arena. ical propaganda and anti-Israel the event and present the orga- “When the event is held in organizations acting from within nization’s new report, titled “The a place funded by the munici- as ‘foreign agents’ in every regard. High Command,” which accord- pality and [paid for] out of the “The use of political agents of ing to the group will “describe in pockets of taxpayers, it is unac- change funded by foreign gov- detail the influence of settlers on ceptable and therefore you must ernments constitutes a blatant IDF soldiers in the territories.” act immediately to cancel it,” he infringement on sovereignty, “Spins on top of spins for a wrote. independence and Israeli democ- little bit more air time for Miri The Jerusalem Municipality racy, and as such this is a sig- Regev,” Novak told Army Radio told media outlets on Tuesday nificant and important step,” he on Tuesday. “I’m guessing that that it would summon the rep- said. this event will take place and I resentatives of the Barbur Gal- Peleg alluded to the controver- invite everyone. Even her, by the lery for an urgent hearing on the sial campaign that his organiza- way.” matter Wednesday morning.