BRUSSELS, 18 Sept. - (ANA) - The Israeli defence ministry can keep getting EU science grants despite blowing up Gaza's main university, but anti-Israel cultural boycotts were "antisemitism," the EU Commission says.

 

Israel's defence ministry received €100,000 of EU taxpayers' money in 2023 from the EU.

 

The European Commission wants to partially suspend Israel from participating in its flagship research and development program, Horizon Europe.

 

Israel's military activities in Gaza could endanger its participation in the €95-billion scheme, which it joined in 2021 as an associate country, the closest form of research cooperation for non-EU countries.

 

The proposed suspension follows the EU's review of its association agreement with Israel, which opens up advantageous bilateral relations. In June the review found Israel in breach of its human rights obligations under the deal, with EU foreign ministers slated to discuss potential consequences during a meeting next month, according to two officials. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/18 September 2025 - - -