‘’We support @btselem to maintain human rights of vulnerable Palestinian communities in Area C,’’ the EU delegation in Israel tweeted as a public message of support to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem which angered Israel when its director criticized Israel’s settlement policy during a session of the United Nations Security Council in New York.

The director, Hagai El-Ad, has called for the United Nations to take action against Israel’s settlements, telling members of the Security Council that Israel was creating facts on the ground in advance of any peace agreement with the Palestinians. El-Ad spoke of “invisible, bureaucratic daily violence” that dominates Palestinian life “from cradle to grave,” including Israeli control over entrance and exit from territories, and farming rights.

The tweet of EU support for B’Tselem was linked to an EU website featuring an EU-funded project run by the organization entitled “Maintaining Human Rights of Vulnerable Palestinian Communities at Risk of Forced Displacement in Area C.” The project is funded primarily by the European Union.

‘’ The overall objective of the projects is to protect the human rights of Palestinian communities at risk of displacement in Area C. The Specific Objectives are to gather credible documentation of human rights violations effecting communities at risk of forced displacement in Area C,’’ the EU website reads.

The US State Department has also expressed its support for B’Tselem and said it was concerned about the threats against the organization.µ

John Kirby, the State Department spokesman, said: “We believe that a free and unfettered civil society is a critical component of democracy… We believe it is important that governments protect the freedoms of expression, and create an atmosphere where all voices can be heard. We are troubled by instances anywhere in the world where these principles are threatened.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that B’Tselem had joined the “chorus of mudslinging” against Israel and denounced it as “shoddy and unhinged.” He threatened to advance a law to block national service volunteers from working with the organization.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations said he intends to demand that the UN end its funding for B’Tselem.

Danon is to argue that the funding prevents the organization from giving reliably objective reports to the UN.

“In the year 2016, three UN bodies gave money to fund B’Tselem,” Danon said in a statement. “It is no coincidence that exactly that organization was invited to speak before the the UN in order to harm Israel.'