Whilst not suggesting that the decision actually contravenes US law, the ADL has now picked up on the general idea (perhaps they read Robin Shepherd’s blog!):

“The ADL urged the U.S. department to consider terminating its sponsorship of the solar power design contest should Spain decline to overturn its decision.

“We hope that the Department of Energy will make clear to its Spanish partners its strong disagreement with this decision,” the League said in a letter to Dr. Steven Chu, the U.S. Secretary of Energy.

The Jewish organization added: “If Spain does not permit the Israeli team to participate, consider withdrawing its sponsorship from the competition.” ”

http://tinyurl.com/y9pojyh

http://koti.phnet.fi/petripaavola/antisemitismiswrong.html

http://usacbi.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/eu-eyes-exports-from-israeli-settlements-2/

Spain lies: there is no EU guideline that sanctions an academic boycott of an Israeli university.

The current guidelines are available here:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/israel/index_en.htm

The EU Declaration on Israeli settlements dated 08/09/2009 states:

“The European Union expresses its serious concern over Israel’s approval of additional settlement construction. Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace. The European Union reiterates its call on Israel to immediately end settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem and including natural growth, and to dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.”

Nothing about a boycott, in fact the organisers of the boycott movement are disappointed:

http://www.badil.org/Publications/Press/2008/press484-08.htm

“No New EU-Israel Action Plan in April 2009!”

*

Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) calls for suspension the EU-Israel Association Agreement
*

100 European organizations pledge support

July 9 2008

On the fourth anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s ruling that Israel’s Wall is illegal, the BNC is calling on the EU not to upgrade its relationship with Israel and to suspend the EU Association Agreement until Israel comes into compliance with international law and Palestinian human rights.

In a statement, the BNC said:

“We are appalled by the EU’s blatant refusal to hold Israel to account for its persistent violations of human rights and international law … The EU is well aware of Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the massive colonization of the latter; after all, the EU member-states have regularly voted for UN resolutions condemning Israel’s human rights violations, collective punishment and construction of settlements and the Wall.”

The BNC is calling on the EU to reverse the decision taken by the EU Association Council on 16 June 2008 to upgrade the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Israel has been in breach of Clause 2 of the agreement, which demands respect for human rights, since the treaty was signed in 1995.

Today’s call, which is supported by 100 European civil society organizations, is part of a growing movement to isolate Israel internationally through boycott, divestment and sanctions until it conforms to international law and human rights standards.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled the Wall to be illegal, and stated that parts already constructed should be dismantled and that reparations should be made for damages. It reminded all state parties to the IV Geneva Convention of their obligation to enforce international humanitarian law and advised them not to render any aid or assistance to the Wall and its associated regime. One year after the ICJ decision, on July 9 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a Unified Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel and has received ever growing support from civil society globally.

ENDS

The EU’s policy towards Israel is quite the opposite of that claimed by the Spanish housing ministry!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_and_the_European_Union

Sweden: Ahmadinejad did not cross ‘red line’ with UN speech

‘Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not cross the “red line” that would have prompted a walkout by all EU states in his speech at the United Nations, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

“There were certain criteria set for when the EU would leave the room and those criteria were not fulfilled,” spokeswoman Cecilia Julin said.’

http://tinyurl.com/yabrl6k

The USED has nothing to fear from the US administration as the Spanish are only doing what Barry and co would do if they could.

Mailman

“Housing Ministry reiterates group of Israeli academics disqualified from solar power design competition in line with EU policy of opposing settlements. National Union of Israeli Students slams ‘irrelevant, faulty political motives’”

And I wonder what the US will have to say about this:

“The contest is sponsored by the US Energy Department, but Spain is hosting it in 2010 and 2012. ”

http://tinyurl.com/ya5grra

From an article in Wikipedia:

“Under 1977 amendments to the Export Administration Act (EAA), it is illegal for US citizens to participate in boycotts imposed by foreign countries that are not sanctioned by the United States.”

http://tinyurl.com/y9fdzjl

I wouldn’t imagine that the US Energy Department would want to break US law.