The website of Maariv Hebrew newspaper revealed that tension has been prevailing in the Finland-Israeli relations in the wake of banning the Jewish National Fund from participating in the NGOs’ annual exhibition in Helsinki.
The newspaper said that the exhibition sponsored by the Red Cross and UN will be held next week with most of its activities carried out in Africa and Middle East.
The National Fund had received permission to participate in the exposition, but recently it was notified of the ban of participation due to legitimacy issues, the newspaper said.
In the wake of the prevention of taking part in the expo, the Jewish community in Finland along with another organization for Jewish women announced their boycott of the event.
In this regard, Professor Sixsy Resnan of Helsinki University wrote on his Facebook page that he was very satisfied with the decision and considered it as a victory of the boycott campaign BDS.
The newspaper mentioned that the Finland decision outraged the Israelis and that the Israeli Ambassador to Helsinki had held talks with officials in the Finland Ministry of Foreign affairs.
They replied that the Ministry has no impact on the event even though it is one of the sponsors of the exhibition. The Israeli Ambassador, in turn, responded by charging the Finland people with anti-Semitism, the newspaper said.
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