Aliza Bin Noun - Israhelli "diplomat" pissed-off by EU concerns about Palestine

[yankeedoodle]

Clash between an Israeli diplomat and European envoys
Aliza Bin Noun reportedly replied "piss me off" to diplomats from 16 countries in the bloc who questioned Israel's conduct towards Palestinians in the West Bank
https://fr.timesofisrael.com/accrochage-entre-une-diplomate-israelienne-et-les-envoyes-europeens/

A clash would have taken place during a recent meeting between an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organizer of the meeting, and a group of diplomats and ambassadors from sixteen European countries, according to information transmitted Thursday.

The incident allegedly occurred a fortnight ago, when a European delegation arrived at the Foreign Ministry for a routine meeting devoted to the situation in the West Bank, according to the Walla news site.

While European diplomats were to raise concerns about the increase in violence committed by settlers against Palestinians, they also used the opportunity to voice their objections to the construction plans in the settlements and 'other subjects.

Thus, diplomats shared their concerns about the progress of construction projects in the E1 area, between Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim, and about the controversial Israeli plan to build in the neighborhood of Givat Hamatos, in Jerusalem. East. They also hinted at other plans to be undertaken in Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli control.

These concerns were presented by a delegation led by Great Britain in an official letter written to Aliza Bin Noun, former Israeli ambassador to France who is now director of the department of European affairs in the foreign ministry.

Bin Noun replied that the mail was insulting.

"After everything the new Israeli government is doing in favor of the Palestinians, are you complaining? Bin Noun reportedly retorted, according to the Walla site.

Since the new government took power last June, it has announced the approval of thousands of work permits in Israel which will be issued to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He also approved hundreds of building permits for Palestinians in Area C, in the West Bank - something that had not been done for years.

But the government has also promoted plans to build thousands of homes beyond the Green Line, with figures comparable to those put forward by previous coalitions. He also allowed the illegal homesh and Evyatar outposts in the northern West Bank to remain standing.

Refusing to discuss the subjects raised by the Europeans, Bin Noun would have added: "You bother me * dez", according to Walla.

European diplomats said the atmosphere of the meeting had been tense and things had escalated quickly, with the meeting interrupted and ending in a "major crisis".

Liot Haiat, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, appeared to confirm this information by telling Walla that "sometimes the positions of Europeans are presented in a way that is unacceptable to us - which requires a clear, straightforward answer, even if our reaction is not pleasant for the Europeans".

The incident in December came as the new government attempted to improve relations with its European allies, which had faltered when ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in power.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has also tried to mend ties between Israel and representatives of countries that are among the most vocal critics of the Jewish state, such as Ireland and Norway.