jerusalem

Israeli officials have condemned a French-led effort to make Israel's participation in the European Union's fifth Framework research programme conditional on it implementing the ‘Wye Plantation’ agreement reached with the Palestinian Authority in October.

Pierre Lebovics, spokesperson for the French embassy in Tel Aviv, says that, although Israeli participation is desirable in principle, “it is clear that such participation has a political dimension, in the context of furthering the peace process and the implementation of the Wye accords”.

But Orna Berry, Israel's chief scientist, describes France's stance as “a flagrant violation of professional integrity”. She says she will refuse to co-ordinate Israel's participation in the Framework programme unless an agreement with Israel is signed by the European Union within two weeks.

Berry says that, if the matter is not resolved by mid-January, when the first calls for projects are issued, there will be little sense in Israel participating.

She argues that Israel's strong research community, and her own experience in working with the Palestinians and Jordan, can contribute to European research and development. “The right thing to do is to concentrate on what we have in common and not on what separates us.” The issue will be taken up by Europe's Council of Ministers early this month.