Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission
5.9.2016
The project with ‘Breaking the Silence’ (BtS) is funded through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). The key objective of the project is to engage and educate primarily young Israelis about the importance of respecting Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) including East Jerusalem and to promote Human Rights and international law in the Israeli public. The promotion of the respect for Human Rights is one of the political commitments by the EU and Israel as set out in the Europan Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.
Israeli veteran combatants are members of BtS. They have taken upon themselves to inform the Israeli public about everyday's life and the Human Rights situation in the oPt and to stimulate a public debate. BtS was nominated in 2010 for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thoughts.
The EEAS/Commission consider activities of Human Rights NGO's in Israel as important. The EU expects those NGOs it funds to operate within the law, but the EU is concerned about legislation adopted recently in Israel that increases state control over certain NGOs, including those that receive external public funding. The EU believes that it is important that the vibrant NGO community in Israel can continue their valuable activities.