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Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman is pushing to expel Robert Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, due to his alleged attempts to fund Hamas.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman wants UN envoy John Serry declared persona non grata. (Photo: Flash90)
Jerusalem-based Robert Serry, a Dutch diplomat serving as UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has been trying to arrange for $20 million to be transferred to the Hamas terror organization, Israel’s Foreign Ministry claims.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman is hoping to have Serry declared persona non grata, the most serious form of censure of foreign diplomats.
Serry denies the allegations, calling them “baseless.”
“According to diplomatic sources,” JPost explains, “Serry asked Israel and the Palestinian Authority to allow the transfer of the funds, but was met with refusals from both sides. He did not give up, however, and continued to push the idea through the UN institutions. According to the sources, he wanted the money to be transferred to UN agencies, which would then transfer it to Hamas inside Gaza.”
Serry had long been viewed as biased against Israel, a source in the Foreign Ministry said. The recent allegations regarding the funds were the “final straw” for Liberman, JPost says.
For example, Serry condemned Israel’s hunt for Naftali Frankel, Gilad Sha’ar and Eyal Yifrach – the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped 10 days ago by Hamas – saying he was “deeply concerned” by reports of Israel’s intense operation in the Palestinian-administered territories and the arrest of hundreds.
IDF in Ramallah in search for missing boys kidnapped by Hamas. UN official John Serry has condemned the mission. (Photo: Issam Rimawi/Flash90)
The UN diplomat called for Israel to use “restraint” while failing to acknowledge that Israel had arrested wanted terrorists.
“The United Nations understands that these security operations and tightened restrictions on movement throughout and in and out of the West Bank are part of all possible efforts by Israel to bring the three youths home safely. We continue to call for their immediate release,” Serry declared.
“At the same time, we call for restraint and expect Israel to carry out the related security operations in compliance with international law and respect for the lives, dignity and livelihoods of Palestinians. Israel should thus seek to minimize the impact of security operations on individuals who have committed no offense and investigate allegations of excessive use of force, including the killing of civilians.”
Written by: United with Israel Staff
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