LONDON: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been criticized by Palestinians for using an “anti-Palestinian, racist trope” in her praise for Israeli democracy during her comments to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel.
In a video posted on Twitter by the EU embassy in the country, von der Leyen, who visited Israel and Palestine last year, paid tribute to Israel as “a vibrant democracy in the heart of the Middle East.”
“We have more in common than geography would suggest; our shared culture, our values and hundreds of thousands of dual Israeli-EU citizens have created a deep connection,” she said, adding: “Your freedom is our freedom.”
She also praised the relationship between the EU and Israel but her comment about Israel making “the desert bloom” was strongly condemned by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. The phrase is often used by Israelis to describe what they perceive to be the country’s successful development since it was established in 1948.
“The State of Palestine rejects the inappropriate, false and discriminatory remarks by the president of the European Commission, particularly the ‘make the desert bloom’ anti-Palestinian, racist trope in relation to Israel’s 75-year colonial project,” the ministry said.
It accused von der Leyen of “propagandist discourse” that undermines “the European Union’s standing and casts serious doubts on its declared commitment to international law and human rights.”
A spokesperson for the European Commission told the BBC on Thursday it was “unpleasantly surprised” by the “inappropriate statement” from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry “accusing the president of the European Commission of racism.”
The spokesperson said the commission was “requesting clarification” over what it described as an “unacceptable reaction” to the video.
