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Last update - 06:17 21/06/2008 Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance of Jews By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Italy  Italy's newly appointed foreign minister said Tuesday that the European Union has in the past taken an unbalanced stance on Israel, at times blurring the line between legitimate criticism and anti-Semitic sentiments. Speaking before a forum on Israel-European relations in Berlin, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: "I have to admit, if I look at the past, EU has taken on some occasions an unbalanced stance visa vis Israel, even by making an unacceptable confusion between the legitimate political criticism of the Israeli gut and the sentiment of intolerance against Jewish people that can become anti-Semitism." Frattini, who was appointed by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is considered a supporter of Israel. His predecessor, Massimo D'Alema, often took a harsh line against Israel, particularly with regard to the Second Lebanon War and the situation in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Frattini is expected to visit Israel sometime in July. In his speech to the Israel-European forum, Frattini criticized the EU for delivering aid to Palestinian organizations which have incited against Israel. "We ever found money given to NGOs close to Hamas using it to indoctrinates children against Israelis," he said, but added: "Now things are changing completely. More awareness of the risk of growing anti-Semitism. Firmness vis a vis with Hamas. Support for the legitimate request of security of Israeli vis a vis the increasingly dangerous activities of Iran in the nuclear field." With regard to the renewed negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem, Frattini said that the European Union would support Syria as long as it acted firmly against terrorism. "EU will support the further commitment of Damascus, provided that Syria takes a very firm stance on preventing and fighting terrorist activities, including support of terrorist organizations that threaten Israelis," he said. "This is one political condition that we want to stress once again." More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Purchase price More consumers are letting their consciences do the shopping. Fighting fear N.Y. mayor urges Jewish voters to denounce Obama Muslim rumors.   1.   LOVE BETWEEN MUSSOULINI`S FOLLOWER AND ISRAEL 21:18  |  JACKAL 18/06/08   2.   Crusaders? 21:37  |  Akiva 18/06/08   3.   Anti semitism? As a gay Catholic Jew I strongly disagree 21:53  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/06/08   4.   who would have thought? 22:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 18/06/08   5.   It was always obvious , but better latter 22:39  |  TOMY 18/06/08   6.   A rare moment 22:42  |  Sam C 18/06/08   7.   EU ending Muslems` Political intimidation 23:05  |  Slappy 18/06/08   8.   EU stance on Israel 23:59  |  canadian 18/06/08   9.   G-d Bless Italy always,Silvio & Franco also...We love all three 00:09  |  Alan SA 19/06/08   10.   Brava Italia 00:11  |  Enzo 19/06/08   11.   # 7 slappy 00:53  |  Axel 19/06/08   12.   "Intolerance of Jews" or a long memory of... 01:23  |  Maureen Ann 19/06/08   13.   I, Gideon Levy, am outraged at the abandonment of anti-semitism 01:25  |  Gideon Levy 19/06/08   14.   vis a vis 01:29  |  Jeremy 19/06/08   15.   The return of Italian Fascism 01:31  |  Mark Lincoln 19/06/08   16.   AND THERE WE HAVE IT, he`s pro-israel 02:40  |  VIPER 19/06/08   17.   Fratini, va fan culo 02:43  |  Josefa Pugliese 19/06/08   18.   Thanks for the good laugh, Yaacov 02:50  |  Ben Bernanke 19/06/08   19.   To # 3 03:14  |  AJ 19/06/08   20.   #9 03:19  |  KG 19/06/08   21.   so, by viper`s logic... 03:36  |  al-kafir al-yahudi 19/06/08   22.   Viper 03:40  |  Regal 19/06/08   23.   frattini 03:58  |  marco 19/06/08   24.   mama mia viva italia 04:19  |  baba lalou 19/06/08   25.   JACKAL YOU CAN"T EVEN SPELL MUSSOLINI 04:28  |  PETER SM 19/06/08   26.   On Creative Euphemisms 04:46  |  Fish 19/06/08   27.   Nice to see a bit of moral clarity from the EU 05:04  |  Gina 19/06/08   28.   what will you and haaretz do ? 05:10  |  Avrum 19/06/08   29.   A Historical note for Yaakov Sullivan 05:12  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 19/06/08   30.   The Europeans are waking up at last. 05:17  |  Steven 19/06/08   31.   #9 05:25  |  Torquemada 19/06/08   32.   Europe is waking up from it`s REM sleep 05:28  |  Luther 19/06/08   33.   CANADIAN EU has relations with Arab states 05:53  |  PETER SM 19/06/08   34.   At Last, Honesty! 07:00  |  US CITIZEN 19/06/08   35.   #9 Viper "when all goes sour, 07:25  |  Jim 19/06/08   36.   #9 viper SLITHERS into an ANGRY tight KNOT 08:11  |  CK Tan 19/06/08   37.   Yaacov Sullivan _ Your rear End And This Article 08:13  |  Eli 19/06/08   38.   I have not seen a change coming from the EU yet regarding its 08:54  |  Ariel 19/06/08   39.   Israel cries anti semitism yet promotes homophobia 08:58  |  SJ 19/06/08   40.   Viper with venom but little else 09:12  |  EJ 19/06/08   41.   to say that european views of israel are based in "anti-semitism" 09:20  |  eric 19/06/08   42.   Britain, the epicentre of anti-Jewish racism! 10:39  |  Roger 19/06/08   43.   Faschists and Zionist UNITE ! 13:02  |  Ariel 19/06/08   44.   #21, AL-KAFIR,either stupid or naive 02:24  |  VIPER 20/06/08   45.   #36, CK TAN, an aswer for you 02:28  |  VIPER 20/06/08   46.   #40, EJ, both arabs and jews 02:29  |  VIPER 20/06/08   47.   SINCE WHEN?SINCE JUDEA/SAMARIA;J`SLM,GOLAN,AND SHABA FARMS PIECE 06:15  |  glenna 21/06/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: Peace dead? Send us your own plan Responses: 187 U.S., Canada warn Hezbollah set to strike Jewish targets, report says Responses: 210 Report: Israel held drill as prep for attack on Iran Responses: 288 Messianic Jews: Police indifferent to threats against us Responses: 118 Rosner's Domain Will we see a record number of Jewish lawmakers? (2) Comparing Obama and Chamberlain (WTR) Guests: intermarried Jews are more distant from Israel The Joe Lieberman dilemma Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... More Headlines 00:08 Oil prices jump after report of Israeli drill for Iran attack 19:50 Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce 01:33 UNICEF severs ties with Israeli patron Lev Leviev 18:23 Three Israeli hikers hurt in shooting attack near Ramallah 20:48 Hamas spokesman voices rare optimism regarding Gaza truce 19:43 N.Y. Mayor urges Jewish voters to denounce Obama Muslim rumors 21:44 PMO: Prisoner exchange with Hezbollah not likely next week 17:59 Austrian politician: Suspected Nazi is 'treasured citizen' 14:45 Report: Israel held military drill as prep for attack on Iran 12:09 Israel's Messianic Jews: Police indifferent to threats against us 13:31 Jerusalem officials to High Court: Gay parade desecrates holy city Previous Editions Select Day 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun

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