Press releases
AJC Transatlantic Institute Calls for Strict Oversight of €1.6 Billion EU Aid to Palestinian Authority
Brussels, 15 April 2025 — The AJC Transatlantic Institute today urged the European Commission to ensure that its proposed €1.6 billion Comprehensive Support Program for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Gaza is subject to strict oversight, full transparency, and effective conditionality to prevent EU taxpayer money from supporting terrorism or incitement.
“The program aims to foster a two-state solution and is conditioned on the Palestinian Authority implementing comprehensive reforms—goals AJC has long supported,” said Benedetta Buttiglione, Director ad interim of the American Jewish Committee’s Brussels-based EU Office, the AJC Transatlantic Institute.
In July 2024, the European Commission and the PA signed a Letter of Intent, outlining a far-reaching reform agenda. AJC welcomes these commitments but stresses that verifiable implementation is essential. Conditionality must not be symbolic—it must be enforced with rigor.
No EU Funds Should Fuel Hate or Terror
For years, the PA has paid monthly stipends to convicted terrorists, including those responsible for deadly attacks, under the guise of social welfare. These payments, often indexed to the gravity of the crimes, reward violence rather than foster peace.
“If the EU wants to remain a credible supporter of a two-state solution, it must insist the PA dismantles these ‘pay-for-slay’ programs and replaces them with initiatives that promote coexistence with Israel,” Buttiglione said.
In 2021, an EU-commissioned report by the Georg Eckert Institute confirmed that Palestinian school textbooks continue to include antisemitism, incitement to violence, and the glorification of terror. AJC has long called on the EU to condition funding on comprehensive reform of educational content.
Transparency and Accountability Are Non-Negotiable
“We call on the European Commission to be fully transparent about how EU funds are spent and to issue regular, public updates on the implementation of PA reforms,” Buttiglione added.
The AJC Transatlantic Institute reaffirms its support for responsible EU engagement in the region, so long as it upholds European values, protects Israel’s security, and promotes genuine progress toward peace.
AJC Transatlantic Institute Welcomes the European Commission’s New Policy to Condition Funding to the Palestinian Authority on Reforms
Brussels – 19 July 2024
The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes today's announcement by the European Commission to condition for the first time its financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority on...
TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal on Iran's Attack Against Israel
On April 16, TAI Director Daniel Schwammenthal joined TVP World to discus Iran's unjustified attack against Israel and the Jewish state's possible response. He highlighted that the Islamic Republic has been trying to destroy Israel for over 40 years and that Iran's proxy Hezbollah began...
Celebration of 75 Years of Israeli-Italian Relations in the Italian Senate
On February 28, the Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)-Italy Chapter, an AJC project of cross-party, interparliamentarian lawmakers, and the Israeli embassy in Rome organized a panel discussion in the Italian Senate celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Rome and Jerusalem....
AJC Statement on the Provisional Measures Order by the International Court of Justice
While the ICJ should have thrown out South Africa’s baseless genocide charges entirely, AJC’s statement highlights that the Court thwarted South Africa’s primary objective in launching this case: to turn the Genocide Convention on its head and use it as an “aggressor’s charter” to prevent Israel from defending its citizens against Hamas’ brutality and continued terror.
AJC Welcomes European Parliament Resolution Conditioning a Gaza Ceasefire on Hamas Dismantlement, Release of all Hostages
On January 18, the European Parliament adopted its second resolution on the Israel-Hamas war. The text conditioned a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on the dismantling of Hamas and the release of all remaining hostages. AJC argues that the resolution, which was adopted on the 1st birthday of Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage, was an important victory for those who truly want to promote a two-state solution.
Exhibition: Israel in the Aftermath of the Hamas Attacks with Photos by Ziv Koren
On December 6, AJC Transatlantic Institute together with the Israeli Mission to the EU and the Representation of Bavaria to the EU exhibited the pictures of Israeli photojournalist Ziv Koren showing Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. Without being graphic, the stunning images...
AJC welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling for the elimination of Hamas
Brussels – 19 October 2023 – The AJC Transatlantic Institute welcomes today’s European Parliament resolution backing Israel’s right to self-defense and calling...
AJC’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel Opens Italian Chapter to Strengthen Links Between Italy, Europe, U.S., Canada and the Jewish State
Rome – May 31, 2023 — The Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI)—the interparliamentary, cross-party network spearheaded by the American Jewish Committee (AJC)—launched its Italian...
Statement From TFI Italy on Recent Events in Israel
Rome – 17 Aprile 2023 – Il Transatlantic Friends of Israel (TFI) Italy condanna fermamente l’ondata di estrema violenza che ha colpito Israele in questi ultimi giorni, i ripetuti efferati attacchi terroristici che...
AJC, Other Jewish Organizations Welcome Suspension of Israeli Judicial Overhaul Legislation
In a joint statement with other American Jewish organizations, AJC welcomed the Israeli government’s suspension of legislative consideration of judicial reform measures, and encouraged “all Knesset factions, coalition and opposition alike, to use this time to build a consensus that includes the broad support of Israeli civil society.”