A team of EU diplomats will head to Israel on Tuesday for talks aimed at soothing tensions over a decision to block EU money from reaching Jewish settlements. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign-policy chief, announced the move after a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry in Vilnius on Saturday. U.S. officials said Kerry would push the EU to avoid any moves that could complicate Middle East peace talks.
For the first time since tensions flared in July, Israeli diplomatic officials sounded optimistic about a resolution that wouldn’t threaten joint programs. An Israeli foreign ministry official said the EU delegation is expected to give clarifications that will “ease our minds” on how the policy will be carried out without blocking EU collaboration with major Israeli research universities.
{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}
