JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel warned the European Union to tone down the criticism of its new government or be cut out of the Middle East peace process.
The warning comes ahead of a planned meeting next week between Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and the head of the EU rotating presidency during a visit to the Czech Republic. Lieberman also will visit Italy, France and Germany.
Rafi Barak, the deputy director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s European desk, issued the warning, an unnamed Israeli official told the AFP French news agency.
The EU’s commissioner said last week that her organization would freeze a planned upgrade of relations with Israel until the government commits to peace talks with the Palestinians.
