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EU becoming so powerful that Israel gives a damn?
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| trancaholic |
Link for the source minded
| quote: | Foreign Ministry warns Israel, Europe on collision course
By Haaretz Service and the Associated Press
A secret report prepared by the Foreign Ministry warns that Israel's global standing could deteriorate in the coming decade and could even resemble the pariah status of apartheid South Africa.
According to the document, which was written in August by the ministry's Center for Political Research, Israel and Europe will find themselves on a collision course that will cause serious economic and diplomatic damage to Israel.
Israel could become increasingly isolated in the coming years if Europe becomes more influential, the Foreign Ministry report says.
"In extreme circumstances, this could put Israel on a collision course with the European Union. Such a collision course holds the risk of Israel losing international legitimacy and could lead to its isolation, in the manner of South Africa," according to the document.
"The EU could sharpen its expectation that Israel will comply with international norms ... and honor the authority of the United Nations and its agencies - an issue that has the potential of leading to friction," the analysts wrote.
The document says the EU is pushing to become a major global player in the next decade, and that as a result, the United States, Israel's main ally, could lose international influence.
In light of ongoing European criticism of Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a more powerful Europe could weaken Israel's position.
The paper also examines various scenarios for the development of Israel's relationship with Europe and Russia.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has repeatedly warned that Israel has to work to strengthen ties with Europe, which also accuses of pro-Palestinian bias, and has expressed concerns over a growing wave of anti-Semitism in parts of Europe.
The report says a new form of anti-Semitism is developing in Europe, one which denies Israel's legitimacy as a sovereign Jewish state.
EU officials in Brussels said that while the EU and Israel have sound relations in the areas of trade and scientific research, they have very definite differences of opinion over Middle East peacemaking.
They also said the EU is seeking more of a say.
"Regarding the Middle East peace process and our relations with Israel and the Palestinians, there is no doubt that the role of the EU has increased," said Christina Gallach, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"We have had difficult moments [with Israel] when we responded to things like the West Bank wall and now what is happening in Gaza," Gallach said, referring to the separation fence in the West Bank and the ongoing major military offensive in northern Gaza.
Europe fiercely objects to the route of the fence, and EU foreign ministers called this week for the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from the northern Strip.
Gallach said the Israeli government wants to broaden the relationship with Europe, without giving the EU a bigger role in resolving the conflict.
"The situation is not easy but we have a lot of investment, especially in Europe, that is important to all of us," Foreign Ministry director-general Ron Prushor told Army Radio on Wednesday.
"When it comes to our economy, which is geared towards developing markets, we are talking about a scope of trade totaling $22 billion." |
So, is this a trend or the work of a mad analyst who's been buried in his office for too long? Are the EU becoming as influential as the US? I had the impression that EU officials were seen as a bunch of bureaucrats with no real power - at least compared to the US. |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by trancaholic
So, is this a trend or the work of a mad analyst who's been buried in his office for too long? Are the EU becoming as influential as the US? I had the impression that EU officials were seen as a bunch of bureaucrats with no real power - at least compared to the US. |
i think as long as the EU actually can stay as one voice and not 25, the EU is a strong voice internationally, esp when dealing with "civilized" (by that i mean a country were there is a solution without war or threat of war) countries :) |
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| trancaholic |
| quote: | Originally posted by St_Andrew
i think as long as the EU actually can stay as one voice and not 25, the EU is a strong voice internationally |
...which, considering that both France and the UK are members, will probably not happen in the foreseeable future.
| quote: | Originally posted by Spacey Orange
as long as the us continues to be israel's lap dog, israel couldn't give a damn if europe is unified and opposes isreal's policies. |
I thought so, too. But the article gives another impression. I was hoping that some of the Israeli forum members could comment on it, but come to think of it, it's been a bit quiet from that front for some time now. |
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| George Smiley |
| quote: | Originally posted by Spacey Orange
as long as the us continues to be israel's lap dog, israel couldn't give a damn if europe is unified and opposes isreal's policies. |
Dont get your hopes up! The EU is Israel's major trading partner so if the EU decided to impose sanctions on Israel (the Parliament wanted to but were vetoed by the Commission) they would be ed as aid does not compete with trade!
The EU is extremely influential in the world. In economic terms it carries as much flout as the US. However, the US is stronger militarily so has that extra little carrot the EU does not have when it wishes to impose its will on other nations. However, the EU is moving closer and closer to a 'Euro' army which could bridge that gap between the US. In fact, it would see US influence in Europe evaporate if the new EU military replacs NATO as the defence of Europe...
Back onto Israel, I think the Foreign Ministry is right that Israel and EU are on a collision course (if they're not half way through it already!) The EU does not favour economic sanctions so on that note Israel is safe for the time being. However, if Europe is continually kept out of what is happening in the Middle East by Israel it will become pissed off. If Israel does not improve the way it treats Palestinians it may well become to Europeans the same as Aparthied S Africa and I dont think anyone would have problems imposing sanctions then...
The EU wants to feel important, and believes it knows how to deal with the situation better than the US (ie actually do something about it!) Israel can continue to ignore the EU at a huge risk to itself, or it can start to listen or at least involve the EU more in peace negotiations (and vica versa - the EU can learn to improve relations with Israel if it wants to exert influence over them) |
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| Matty V |
If the Euro ever gets going and becomes a major worldwide currency, the US Dollar would start to struggle and this could affect the US.
but thats a big IF |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by trancaholic
...which, considering that both France and the UK are members, will probably not happen in the foreseeable future. |
hehe, kinda true. but i for one actually think that they could agree on many issues, not all though...
and if EU used qualified majority for foregein policies, that could be less of a problem too. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| Watch for Israel applying for admission into the EU. |
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| Genesis Evolved |
| quote: | Originally posted by ShadoWolf
Watch for Israel applying for admission into the EU. |
Well, they already take part in Eurovision, so.... :clown:
On a serious note, Israel will never be part of the EU. |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by Genesis Evolved
On a serious note, Israel will never be part of the EU. |
on a serious note, i think they could. Assmuing Isr-pal conflict ends that is. Oh well, perhaps that will never happend... |
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| biznology |
Ask Svante...hehe.
seriously they could potentially be in the EU, which i find somewhat rediculous on one hand and entirely possible on the other. their 'culture' was spawned of Europe, but I dont think that they should really be extenting the EU much beyond what is actually 'Europe'..
What next? Russia -> Asia -> ?| |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by biznology
Ask Svante...hehe.
seriously they could potentially be in the EU, which i find somewhat rediculous on one hand and entirely possible on the other. their 'culture' was spawned of Europe, but I dont think that they should really be extenting the EU much beyond what is actually 'Europe'..
What next? Russia -> Asia -> ?| |
actually i have been thinking of this, as long as countries share what the EU stands for, i see no problem in EU expanding outside europe... |
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| JM |
| quote: | Originally posted by St_Andrew
on a serious note, i think they could. Assmuing Isr-pal conflict ends that is. Oh well, perhaps that will never happend... |
nah. they'll accept Turkey, and Afganistan before they'll accept Israel into the EU...
in 20 years it will be EurAsia continent called EU.
>JM< |
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