The results of Bulgaria’s investigation into the possible role of Hezbollah in
July’s suicide bombing there of an Israeli tour bus “will be essential“ for the
EU process to list the Lebanese organization as a terrorist entity, Spain’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Gonzalo de Benito said on Wednesday.
In a
wide-ranging interview with The Jerusalem Post from Abuja, Nigeria, de Benito,
whose title is secretary of state for foreign affairs, said of a proposed
blacklisting of Hezbollah, “We want to take the decision with our European
countries and are waiting for the report” from Bulgaria.
De Benito’s
language mirrored the comments of France’s Ambassador to Israel. French envoy
Christophe Bigot told the Post earlier this month that, in regards to the EU
position on Hezbollah, the “main element is what is the outcome of the inquiry
in Bulgaria.”
Israeli and American intelligence officials attribute the
suicide bombing in Burgas that killed five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus
driver, and wounded 32 other Israelis, to a joint Hezbollah-Iran
operation.
De Benito stressed that Spain seeks to work “within the
framework of Europe” regarding a decision to outlaw Hezbollah.
Asked
about the role of the Lebanese Shi’ite group in murdering Europeans and in
helping the Assad regime to massacre pro-reform Syrians, de Benito said, “We
have all of this information, and it will not lead us to take a decision”
independent of the process in Sofia. He stressed that the Bulgarian report “will
be essential.”
In response to questions about the Obama administration
counterterrorism chief, John O. Brennan, who chastised the EU for its
failure to outlaw Hezbollah, stating “Let me be clear” that European opposition
to a ban “makes it harder to defend our countries and protect our citizens,” de
Benito said, adding that the EU “takes the decision collectively” and “need[s]
to look into the evidence.”
The US designated Hezbollah a foreign
terrorist organization in 1995.
De Benito said, “We know in Spain what
terrorism is, and [what] fighting against terrorism [is].” He cited the 2004
al-Qaida train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and wounded 1,858
others.
The deputy foreign minister talked about the Basque separatist
group ETA. ETA has caused the deaths of more than 1,000 people over roughly 30
years, de Benito said. ETA wants autonomy for Basques in northern Spain and
southwestern France.
Asked about comparisons between ETA and Hezbollah,
de Benito said the objectives of the groups are different but the standard to
qualify as a terrorist group remains the same.
There has been “in the
past terrorist actions from this side [Hezbollah],” and they were in support of
an “international” objective, he said.
Responding to Israel’s Operation
Pillar of Defense air offensive in the Gaza Strip, the deputy foreign minister
said Hamas “started the confrontation” and his government along with the EU has
expressed support for the “right of Israel’s government to defend its
population.”
He “strongly condemned” Wednesday’s terrorist attack on a
bus in Tel Aviv, which wounded over a dozen people. There is “no excuse for this
or for bombing a civilian population,” de Benito said.
Asked about an
executive summary report from the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor outlining Spanish
governmental funds for anti-Israeli Spanish and Middle Eastern NGOs, de Benito
said, “The last thing we would do would be to finance NGOs against Israel or
other countries.”
NGO Monitor noted in its report that “between 2009 and
2011, approximately 15 million euros in Spanish public funds (central government
and regions) have been transferred to political advocacy NGOs active in
promoting this agenda through the different funding frameworks (5 million euros
to Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, and 10 million euros to Spanish NGOs). The
federal government funding is generally provided through the aid agency
AECID.”
NGO Monitor accused Applied Research Institute Jerusalem, which
received 176,637 euros (2011) in Spanish funds, of promoting boycott activity
against Israel and demonization of the Jewish state, including membership in the
Palestinian Grassroots Anti- Apartheid Wall Campaign and support for the global
anti- Israel boycott movement.
NGO Monitor listed Breaking the Silence:
the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions; and the Popular Struggle
Coordination Committee as NGOs that bash Israel while being awarded Spanish
funds.
In response to de Benito’s statement, Prof. Gerald Steinberg, the
head of NGO Monitor, told the Post on Wednesday, “The statement by the deputy
foreign minister is a clear and welcome change in Spanish government policy.
Unfortunately, previous governments have fueled the conflict by providing
millions of euros taxpayer funds to some of the most destructive NGOs, under the
facade of promoting peace and human rights. By ending this funding, the Spanish
taxpayer will also benefit, and the European Union and the member states, which
waste over 100 million euros annually on destructive NGOs, will have an
important example to follow.”
Nader Hrimat, the deputy director-general
of Applied Research Institute Jerusalem, said NGO Monitor is “not in a legal
position to make a judgment about any organization, and our site is open for all
people. We are not a political organization. We talk about natural
resources and environmental rights.”
Asked about language used to
demonize Israel, including the phrase “ethnic cleansing,” he said, “We have case
studies about the environment. I do not know about this issue.”
Breaking
the Silence listed on its website “the Spanish Agency for International
Cooperation” as a funder. A Post email to Breaking the Silence was not
immediately answered.
NGO Monitor wrote in its report that the Israeli
Committee Against House Demolitions received 181,508 euros (2009–2010) from
Spain and “promotes the demonization of Israel, supports boycotts and divestment
campaigns, and leads the ‘Gaza boat’ publicity missions. Founder Jeff Halper
advocates for a ‘one-state solution’ that would eliminate Jewish
self-determination rights.”
Halper told the Post by telephone on Thursday
that Spain provided “$50,000 to $60,000 in 2012,” and the “intervention of Spain
is appropriate.”
“ICAHD support the BDS [boycott, divestment and
sanctions] campaign against Israel until the Occupation ends,” he wrote to the
Post by email.
Halper rejected idea that the committee demonizes or
delegitimizes Israel. “We see it [BDS] as holding Israel accountable for its
policies just like any other state.”
He added, “I was on the first boat
of the Free Gaza Movement to actually enter Gaza, in August 2008,” and noted
that “ICAHD has moved towards a one-state solution.”
Steinberg told the
Post, “Halper acknowledges that the funding that ICAHD receives from foreign
governments, including Spain, is used to promote his own private opinions, in
contrast to the policies of the democratically elected government of Israel.
This is clearly an abuse of taxpayer funds and violates the norms of relations
between sovereign democracies.
How would Spain and other European
countries react to foreign state funding for fringe separatists?” The Popular
Struggle Coordination Committee wrote the Post that it “is receiving funding
from the Spanish government for human rights defenders and legal aid. The
Spanish government has publicly provided information regarding their funding
criteria as well as the organizations they support on their website.”