MK Michael Kleiner (Herut Party) is calling for an investigation into the sources of funds for The Peres Center For Peace. Kleiner says that Foreign Minister Shimon Peres continues to evade his official parliamentary questions regarding funding for the institution which was established in 1997. Kleiner asked Peres if funding for the organization comes from foreign countries or other foreign entities such as the European Union. If that is the case, Kleiner maintains that Peres\' accepting donations from foreign entities and serving as Israel\'s foreign minister constitutes a serious conflict of interests.
Kleiner\'s first query was submitted in July following an expose article by investigative journalist Yoav Yitzhak from Maariv. Yitzhak revealed on June 22, 2001 that the European Union had approved the transfer of hundreds of thousands of Euros to left-wing organizations in Israel which support Israeli territorial compromise in exchange for Palestinian promises of peace. Kleiner\'s spokesperson Sarah Tiktenski told Arutz Sheva that an organization which receives donations from foreign governments or from the EU is likely to work to advance the interests of that entity. She said, \"If such is the case with Peres, he must be relieved immediately from his position as Israel\'s Foreign Minister.\" Tiktinsky added that she personally saw requests by the Peres Center for Peace to receive funding from the EU.
Kleiner\'s first query was submitted in July following an expose article by investigative journalist Yoav Yitzhak from Maariv. Yitzhak revealed on June 22, 2001 that the European Union had approved the transfer of hundreds of thousands of Euros to left-wing organizations in Israel which support Israeli territorial compromise in exchange for Palestinian promises of peace. Kleiner\'s spokesperson Sarah Tiktenski told Arutz Sheva that an organization which receives donations from foreign governments or from the EU is likely to work to advance the interests of that entity. She said, \"If such is the case with Peres, he must be relieved immediately from his position as Israel\'s Foreign Minister.\" Tiktinsky added that she personally saw requests by the Peres Center for Peace to receive funding from the EU.