Israel's Ambassador to the European Union Aharon Leshno-Yaar leveled harsh criticism against a Spanish member of the European Parliament, accusing her of criticizing Israel in an effort to score political points.
Elena Valenciano, the vice chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, has been an outspoken critic of Israel's planned demolition of the illegal Bedouin encampment of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank. She has publicly issued numerous letters to Israel's EU representative condemning the move.
In a letter to Valenciano, published on the Israeli delegation the EU's social media accounts, Lehno-Yaar noted two of Valenciano's latest letters to him on Khan al-Ahmar "were sent just a few minutes before you and your group published a press release on the matter, stating that a letter was sent to me. Evidently, your actions are cynical and political and do not represent a genuine interest in dialogue."
While Valenciano issued four press releases critical of Israel in recent months, more than any other country in the Middle East, Leshno-Yaar noted that "at the same time, there are no statements from you on the plight of the Palestinians in Syria, the situation in Idlib, neither on the Iranian entrenchment in Syria and the entire Middle East region, not on its threats to annihilate Israel.
"This odd obsession with the Jewish state is manifested by the symbolic timing in which you found it appropriate to send me the letter; on a Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year."
Leshno-Yaar said Valenciano's conduct demonstrated "a genuine lack of understanding of basic facts on the ground and intentionally disregard the ongoing democratic debate in Israel. It also shows complete ignorance regarding the Israeli laws and Basic Laws that have been legislated. In addition, you are mixing Palestinians living in the Palestinian Authority and Arab-Israeli citizens of Israel."
He said Valenciano's silence on the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and reports of Iranian intelligence gathering on Jewish sites was "deafening."
"Instead of dealing with this tough and painful issue, you are adopting a narrative that has only one aim – to smear the democratic state of the Jewish people," he said.
Valenciano pushed back against Leshno-Yaar's accusations.
"There is no obsession with Israel, a country I respect and admire," she said, only sharp criticism of the Netanyahu government.
Doubling down on her criticism, Valenciano then issued a statement decrying the "radical policies" of the Netanyahu government.
"Our commitment as a socialist group continues to be respect for human rights and international law, and therefore we maintain our determination to defend a two-state solution as the only way to a future of justice, peace and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians. The demolition of Khan al-Ahmar would mean a very hard blow to this solution. We defend Israel's right to its security, but we cannot remain silent in the face of the nationalist and racist policies of its current government, or the occupation and fragmentation of the West Bank, the segregation of Arab citizens or the oppression of minorities, such as the Bedouin."
Socialist members of the European Parliament have issued 10 statements critical of Israel in the past six months, four of them in the past 60 days.
Israeli diplomatic officials believe the increased condemnation is aimed at drumming up support ahead of elections for the European Parliament in April.
Located some 6 miles east of Jerusalem, between the Israeli communities of Maaleh Adumim and Kfar Adumim, Khan al-Ahmar is home to some 180 Bedouin who live in tin and wood shacks.
The United Nations, the European Union and others have expressed concern over the fate of Khan al-Ahmar, but Israel maintains the village was illegally built and has offered to resettle residents 7 miles away.
Israel says the structures that make up Khan al-Ahmar, which include an Italian-funded school, pose a threat to residents because of their proximity to a highway. Critics have dismissed this claim as a ploy to remove the village's residents.
Palestinians claim that Israeli building permits have been impossible to get for Khan al-Ahmar.
The High Court of Justice rejected an appeal to block the demolition, lifting an injunction set to expire in a week. No date has been set for the demolition at this time.
