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Last update - 14:47 17/06/2008
EU unanimously upgrades Israel ties, turning aside PA objections
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, EU, PA

The European Union, turning aside Palestinian objections, has announced upgraded relations with Israel in the form of a range of steps involving commerce, the economy, and academic ties as well as improvements in the diplomatic dialogue between the sides.

The decision was taken unanimously on Monday by the EU's 27 member nations, following an intense diplomatic effort by Israel.

The upgrade in relations had been in doubt prior to the decision, amid moves to make approval conditional on a freeze on Israeli settlement activity and on progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad enraged Israeli officials when he asked the EU not to upgrade ties with Israel unless Israel ceased construction of settlements and the West Bank separation barrier.
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The PA has charged that Israel delayed and reduced payments of tex revenues it collects for the Authority in order to "punish" Fayyad.

In the wake of diplomatic efforts by senior Foreign Ministry officials, the EU made do with a call for movement in Israeli-Palestinian talks, and without conditioning the upgrade on such progress.

Accordingly, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and EU counterparts meeting in Luxembourg on Monday agreed to set up a working group to discuss the outlines of upgraded ties and to present their conclusions by year's end.

The upgrade will be carried out in a number of spheres. The diplomatic dialogue between the Israeli government and senior officials of EU institutions, by means of annual high-level meetings.

In the economic sphere, Israel will join European agencies and working groups with the aim of bringing the Israeli economy closer to European standards, and to help Israeli companies more easily contend with the European commercial market, particularly in the fields of high-tech and aviation.

Upgraded ties may also lead to recognition by European academic institutions of degrees awarded by Israeli universities and colleges, a step which would allow Israeli students to study for advanced degrees in European universities and other academic institutions.

In addition, the process would allow grants worth tens of millions of euros to be awarded Israeli scientists and researchers.

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      1.   IF ANY FURTHER PROOF WERE NEEDED... 14:23  |  Brant 17/06/08
      2.   A VERY SAD DAY 14:26  |  indrajaya 17/06/08
      3.   Fayyad has a thing or two to think about now 14:35  |  MR 17/06/08
      4.   Unconditional Love 14:41  |  Danny 17/06/08
      5.   EU has lost is even-handed policies 14:44  |  Ray 17/06/08
      6.   Congratulations, Israel 14:52  |  Brian Gould 17/06/08
      7.   Universities 14:53  |  Philip 17/06/08
      8.   Perfect, lets sign in Libya, Burma and Syria !! 14:54  |  Joakim 17/06/08
      9.   By the Way, the Palestinians are also in line for upgrade 14:56  |  Joakim 17/06/08
      10.   Indrajaya 14:59  |  jeremy 17/06/08
      11.   I love that this is burning up all the anti-Semites -keep your.. 15:00  |  don 17/06/08
      12.   Palestinians lost sympathy for using human shield 15:00  |  POP 17/06/08
      13.   To Ray 15:03  |  jeremy 17/06/08
      14.   #2 Indrajaya 15:03  |  Edith 17/06/08
      15.   Europe`s shame 15:03  |  Chanalau, Tova 17/06/08
      16.   Congratulations to the just EU! 15:03  |  Lebanese in Canada 17/06/08
      17.   It is now time to strengthn these ties between Israel and the EU 15:04  |  Roger 17/06/08
      18.   # 2 Indy....I keep telling you 15:04  |  Lynn 17/06/08
      19.   It`s all because of the Qassams 15:06  |  MarkC 17/06/08
      20.   A disgrace 15:07  |  Sylvie 17/06/08
      21.   a blow to the British "Academics" 15:15  |  Jacob 17/06/08
      22.   EU unanimously upgrades ties. 15:16  |  David Nigel Braham 17/06/08
      23.   Will Joakim survive this black day of his life? 15:19  |  POP 17/06/08
      24.   Sad day for European leftist anarchists. 15:22  |  POP 17/06/08
      25.   What a Joke 15:24  |  Palestinian in UK 17/06/08
      26.   Droits de l`homme 101 pour Sarkozy 15:38  |  Lebanese in Canada 17/06/08
      27.   It`s because the Jews have much to offer. 15:43  |  judith 17/06/08
      28.   Palestinian in UK 15:53  |  Hasan 17/06/08
      29.   Congratulation Israel and Israeli people! Europe is with you 15:56  |  POP 17/06/08
      30.   # 25 Pal in UK.....Why should the EU sacrifice 15:57  |  Lynn 17/06/08
      31.   Bye Bye Pallywood :) 16:01  |  POP 17/06/08
      32.   EU not falling for Palestinian propoganda 16:03  |  Sam 17/06/08
      33.   LEBANESE IN Canada Turkey suffers for the behaviour of the rest 16:04  |  PETER SM 17/06/08
      34.   # 5 Ray of Cleveland....maybe we`re all sick of hearing 16:07  |  Lynn 17/06/08
      35.   PAL in UK Checklist for martyrs in the UK and all Europe 16:08  |  PETER SM 17/06/08
      36.   indrajaya 16:20  |  George 17/06/08
      37.   EU 16:21  |  Francisco 17/06/08
      38.   To Palestinian in UK 16:24  |  George 17/06/08
      39.   Lebanese en Canada.Droits de l`homme 101 pour les Arabes 16:30  |  PETER SM 17/06/08
      40.   Europe is a partner in the crime 16:33  |  Cynic #2 17/06/08
      41.   G_d Bless The EU 16:48  |  Nicky 17/06/08
      42.   Nutters in an ivory tower... 16:55  |  John 17/06/08
      43.   #2 indrajaya 17:01  |  Shlomo 17/06/08
      44.   A shift in alliances? 17:03  |  Arie 17/06/08
      45.   CYNIC naqwhat?? Failed war to steal it all 17:03  |  PETER SM 17/06/08
      46.   Good news! 17:09  |  Stranger 17/06/08
      47.   indrajaya - Its a GREAT DAY.. Who wants 17:20  |  er 17/06/08
      48.   To PUK # 25 17:24  |  utagawa 17/06/08
      49.   #2, Indy...get used to disappointment! 17:27  |  DR 17/06/08
      50.   Academics 17:28  |  Real Cynic 17/06/08
      51.   Read statement before cheering to much.... 17:32  |  Joakim 17/06/08
      52.   @41 Nicky 17:33  |  Mark B. 17/06/08
      53.   @27 Judith from NY bluffing and bragging 17:46  |  Mark B. 17/06/08
      54.   Mark B 18:07  |  George 17/06/08
      55.   Upgrades 18:33  |  Twitterer 17/06/08
      56.   re: A VERY SAD DAY 18:36  |  d 17/06/08
      57.   For how long... 19:08  |  Mike Friedman 17/06/08
      58.   Hey George do not take it so bad 19:17  |  Mark B. 17/06/08
      59.   Upgrade for Palestine means recognition as a terrorist entity 19:19  |  POP 17/06/08
      60.   leftist anarchists in Europe unanimously sent to the trash 19:29  |  POP 17/06/08
      61.   Interesting, does this mean EU is starting to understand? 19:54  |  David 17/06/08
      62.   Must make nice before antichrist=upgrade 19:57  |  Daniel 17/06/08
      63.   EU, thank you 20:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/06/08
      64.   # 40 Cynic #2.....the tide is turning in favor of 21:30  |  Lynn 17/06/08
      65.   # 63 CJK 00:44  |  Axel 18/06/08
      66.   Next step: privileged partnership 00:48  |  Paul Henzen 18/06/08
      67.   It`s about time!!! 07:38  |  Ex-pat 18/06/08
      68.   I am very sad and my husband broke a plate over it 08:04  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/06/08
      69.   indrajaya, thanks for your understanding, keep up posting 08:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/06/08
      70.   Chanalau Tova ( Mahmood) is unhappy? Too bad. 08:18  |  Ron 18/06/08
      71.   POP, my wife Yaakov declared a day of mourning today 08:26  |  Hassan El Husseini 18/06/08