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2025-08-19 Europe
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Europe anti-Israel round-up: stupid little stuff from France, Norway, Irish writer, all for love of Hamas/hate of Israel
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France threatens ‘strong response’ if Israel closes its Jerusalem consulate
[IsraelTimes] French Foreign Ministry says it hasn’t gotten any official notification of the reported move, floated in response to Paris’s plans to recognize Palestinian state.
Israeli plans to close France’s consulate in Jerusalem would provoke a “strong response” from Paris, a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
The statement followed reports that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is pushing for Israel to close the French consulate in the capital, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Macron’s declaration in July that France would recognize a State of Palestine at the UN next month kicked off a series of Western countries saying they would follow suit.
Israel has rejected recognition of a Palestinian state as a “reward for Hamas” that hurts chances of a ceasefire in Gaza. In July, the Knesset voted 71-13 for a symbolic motion in favor of annexing the West Bank.
France has had a diplomatic presence in Jerusalem dating back to the 17th century. The current building was opened in 1932, and was seen as a sign of France’s desire to reassert its historical role in the holy land.
France’s Jerusalem consulate — along with those of the UK, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Belgium, Spain, and Sweden — predates the founding of Israel and operates without official accreditation to the state. These eight missions serve as their countries’ channels to the Palestinian Authority and handle a range of issues within Jerusalem.
France is not the only country to face retaliation from Sa’ar. Earlier today, the foreign minister revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority in response to two recent decisions from Canberra: to recognize a Palestinian state, and to bar far-right MK Simcha Rothman from entering the country.
In a social media post on Monday, Sa’ar called those decisions “shameful and unacceptable,” and said Australia’s ban on Rothman and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked “fuel” rising antisemitism in the country.
Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries have since planned similar announcements, or have floated doing so.
 Norway’s sovereign wealth fund excludes 6 more Israeli companies linked to West Bank, Gaza
[IsraelTimes] Move by $2 trillion fund follows decision last week to sell investments in 11 Israeli companies over concerns about IDF activity in West Bank and Gaza. The fund did not name the companies it had decided to exclude.
The fund launched an urgent review earlier this month after reports that it had built a stake in an Israeli jet engine group that provides services to the Israel Defense Forces, including the maintenance of fighter jets.
“We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened. In response, we will further strengthen our due diligence,” the fund’s CEO Nicolai Tangen said in a statement last week.
As of August 14, the fund had some $1.86 billion invested in 38 companies listed in Israel, the fund’s operator Norges Bank Investment Management said, a reduction of 23 companies since June 30.
“More companies could be excluded,” Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg told reporters.
The fund said the names of the six companies in Monday’s announcement would be made public, along with specific reasons, once the divestments were completed. One possibility is that they include Israel’s five largest banks, which have been under review by the fund’s ethical watchdog.
Separately, the fund said it had also sold stakes in six other companies, following a decision last week to only hold stakes in Israeli companies that are part of the fund’s benchmark index.
Norway has seen a debate flare up about the fund’s investments in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza ahead of elections on September 8, with some parties calling for the fund to divest from all Israeli companies, a step the government has ruled out.
Norway’s parliament in June rejected a proposal for the fund to divest from all companies with activities in the West Bank and Gaza. “This debate helps sharpen our practices,” said Stoltenberg.
 Irish literary star Sally Rooney pledges UK TV fees to banned anti-Israel group
[IsraelTimes] Donation pledge BBC fees to UK’s Palestine Action is latest in series of anti-Israel moves by writer of ‘Normal People’; UK spokesperson: Support for group is violation of Terrorism Act.
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Posted by trailing wife 2025-08-19 00:00||
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File under: Hamas
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Posted by Grom the Affective 2025-08-19 01:15||
2025-08-19 01:15||
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Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2025-08-19 09:57||
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Posted by DooDahMan 2025-08-19 18:26||
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Posted by trailing wife 2025-08-19 19:10||
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Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2025-08-19 19:42||
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Posted by SteveS 2025-08-19 20:59||
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Posted by Woodrow 2025-08-19 21:11||
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Posted by trailing wife 2025-08-19 22:09||
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Posted by trailing wife 2025-08-19 22:16||
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Posted by Sonny Omiper4678 2025-08-19 23:14||
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Posted by trailing wife 2025-08-19 23:23||
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Posted by Sonny Omiper4678 2025-08-19 23:27||
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04:09 Frank G
02:40 Grom the Affective
02:26 Grom the Affective
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01:58 Grom the Affective
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