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Last update - 11:17 06/01/2010
Europe remains unwilling to walk in Israel's shoes
By Shimon Stein
Tags: European Union 
 

The arrest order issued in Britain against Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni is nothing but one of many symptoms of a deep and long-running problem that is unlikely to be solved as long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues.

The apology by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (whose own government would be well advised to deal with the issue, of which it has long been aware) and his government's plan to tackle the problem through legislation, will not solve our troubles with the European Union.

The root of the problems lies in the fundamental disagreements between Israel and the EU regarding the manner in which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved and our conduct vis-a-vis the Palestinians. The conclusions of the EU council of foreign ministers on the peace process, adopted last month in Brussels, and the harsh criticism of Israel voiced by the EU's new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, are only the most recent examples of the deep gap that has existed for years between us and Europe.
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The disagreements do not stem mainly from economic considerations and interests, although their role in shaping the positions of certain EU members should not be discounted. The reasons are deeper and are linked to the lesson taken by European states from the profound trauma of World War II. The preference for multilateral frameworks, the adherence to the principles of international law, the rejection of the use of force to change political realities, the sanctification of human rights as an absolute value (that is sometimes applied in a manner that leaves behind a sense of double standards) and empathy toward those who are perceived as being weak - all these are part of the principles by which the EU states conduct themselves.

The conduct of Israel, as a state that calls itself democratic, is not perceived by the EU countries as conforming to those principles. European politicians (if we permit ourselves to speak in generalities), not to mention the public, are generally unwilling to walk in the shoes of Israel, which operates as a democracy under threat, and to demonstrate understanding for the motivations behind its conduct. And any small understanding is not reflected in the media.

The threat of terror, which has become an inseparable part of Israel's quotidian reality, and Israel's responses - which are covered obsessively - bumps up against a European reality that with the exception of a few instance has not experienced the horrors of terror.

It follows from this that Israel's responses to terror, which result in unintended harm to civilians, are not only met by a lack of understanding but represent a focus of harsh criticism.

One of the by-products of this criticism is the beginning of an open discussion among some European elites of the nature of Israel's democracy as well as the extent of its legitimacy as a Jewish state, which is of great concern.

For years the EU has expressed its dissatisfaction with Israel's political and military conduct with a policy of reward and punishment. When there are unilateral withdrawals and an active peace process, Israel receives a prize; the absence of a peace process and disproportionate military actions lead to punishments.

This pattern, which changes in accordance with the existence of the peace process or lack thereof, is based on a fundamental and mutual lack of trust.

After observing the situation for many years it is hard to escape the conclusion that Israel and the Europeans are conducting not a dialogue, but rather two monologues. A solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could lay the foundations for a new stage in our relations with Europe. Until that happens we must get used to reality, the expressions of which we have been witness to in recent weeks.

The writer is a former Israeli ambassador to Germany.
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  1.   The real question 05:02  |  Frank 06/01/10
  2.   Arrest limie Ambassador for kidnapping conspiracy then expel him. 05:16  |  Disgusted American 06/01/10
  3.   Obsessively self righteous 05:26  |  Natallie Durson 06/01/10
  4.   EU a load of ... 05:48  |  Disgusted 06/01/10
  5.   LET`S HOPE THEY WALK IN OUR SHOES 06:01  |  STEVE 06/01/10
  6.   Hogwash, Pure and Simple 06:22  |  Edward 06/01/10
  7.   The real issue 06:41  |  Jon 06/01/10
  8.   EUROPE 08:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/01/10
  9.   Europe and terrorism 08:12  |  Jacques 06/01/10
  10.   Europe is forever shamed by it`s own history. 08:34  |  The Maintenance Man 06/01/10
  11.   Briton`s shoes... 08:44  |  James Hovland 06/01/10
  12.   Is that all you`ve got? 08:50  |  O 06/01/10
  13.   europe 09:03  |  zoe 06/01/10
  14.   zoe: is Greece in Europe? 09:41  |  John Spear 06/01/10
  15.   Unbelievable UK hypocrisy 09:43  |  Aesop 06/01/10
  16.   What O`s got 09:45  |  SDHD 06/01/10
  17.   #8 Jaques 09:51  |  Jennifer 06/01/10
  18.   Good article 10:00  |  Walter 06/01/10
  19.   Jacques thinks he`s stumbled upon a good argument 10:33  |  SDHD 06/01/10
  20.   john spear 11:03  |  zoe 06/01/10
  21.   The Europeans have become a pretty rational people..... 11:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/01/10
  22.   The Europeans mustn`t be allowed to mediate in the ME conflict. 11:09  |  Jerusalem Jew 06/01/10
  23.   A THREAT ISRAEL HAS CREATED 11:24  |  VIPER 06/01/10
  24.   #8 Jacques 11:28  |  Sarah 06/01/10
  25.   The approach to Israel is tainted by a mix of economics and angst 11:37  |  Edward 06/01/10
  26.   14 sdhd, you`ve just "attempted" to discount what O has said 11:38  |  eric 06/01/10
  27.   Israel`s problem is too many US attitudes and not enough European 11:51  |  Michael 06/01/10
  28.   european colonist mentality 11:57  |  saul a. readner 06/01/10
  29.   NONSENCE 12:31  |  tiki 06/01/10
  30.   Its not just the EU, its the world. Israel is doomed 12:40  |  Dale Nauta 06/01/10
  31.   Europe - Israel 12:44  |  Sarah 06/01/10
  32.   Viper "...and it`s only going to get worse" 12:52  |  17 06/01/10
  33.   Diagnosis correct, Prognosis wrong 13:08  |  Clarity 06/01/10
  34.   One thing is very clear from your post, Clarity 13:19  |  Nemesis 06/01/10
  35.   British Sentiment 13:54  |  Rob 06/01/10
  36.   swiss (dino), something else 14:01  |  scallywag 06/01/10
  37.   Nemesis, what it means is that... 14:02  |  Clarity 06/01/10
  38.   sdhd 15 14:26  |  potobac 06/01/10
  39.   No - What Israel wants is.. 14:29  |  Skandarooni 06/01/10
  40.   michael in uk 14:29  |  scallywag 06/01/10
  41.   It won`t change until Israel does 14:46  |  sh 06/01/10
  42.   MICHAEL EU problem is they are too dependent on trade & oil 15:00  |  PETER SM 06/01/10
  43.   potobac - you are so right 15:10  |  scallywag 06/01/10
  44.   38 Scallywag. Germany too is a new country. 15:19  |  Michael 06/01/10
  45.   Rob 35 is completely correct 15:20  |  Michael 06/01/10
  46.   Michael/UK - European morality 15:36  |  17 06/01/10
  47.   Europe should shut up and judge Arabs & Israel alike!! 17:05  |  arthur 06/01/10
  48.   EU is too dependent on M.E. oil&trade to be independent. 19:37  |  PETER SM 06/01/10
  49.   The ability to listen and understand 19:49  |  Anonymous 06/01/10
  50.   #26, eric 20:51  |  Aaron 06/01/10
  51.   Aaron #50 03:30  |  EZ 07/01/10
  52.   IT WILL NOT CHANGE 03:31  |  TOBIA 07/01/10
  53.   Europeans anti-semitic 04:01  |  Otto Rand 07/01/10
  54.   Europ should be very worried about their own backyard 04:11  |  Daniel 07/01/10
  55.   IRA 04:24  |  Fred Coombes 07/01/10
  56.   2000 years of slaughtering jews doesn`t change in 60 years 04:39  |  bernard ross 07/01/10
  57.   Dino`s double standard (#21) 04:55  |  Morris Valentine 07/01/10
  58.   The Lie 05:17  |  Justice 07/01/10
  59.   Europe overdosed on 2000 years of war. What`s Goldstone`s excuse 05:22  |  JW 07/01/10
  60.   Insightful, but with usual blind spots... 05:34  |  Tired 07/01/10
  61.   peter sm 48 05:50  |  potobac 07/01/10
  62.   Poor, misunderstood Israel 06:56  |  Sass 07/01/10
  63.   Europe: 2,000 years of persecuting, murdering, robbing Jews 07:08  |  Laila 07/01/10
  64.   #35. Wholesale bombing of Germany, Serbia, by Britain OK 07:11  |  Elly 07/01/10
  65.   #35 British were always anti Israel 07:14  |  Liliane 07/01/10
  66.   the main point? 08:26  |  Ian 07/01/10
  67.   #47 Arthur 09:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/01/10
  68.   Shimon`s willful ignorance 09:33  |  Richard 07/01/10
  69.   Wrong. The fundimental problem is hatred of Jews. 09:39  |  Jew 07/01/10
  70.   The Problem.. 09:46  |  Eruaran 07/01/10
  71.   #50 aaron, you go a little overboard with your assertions 09:50  |  eric 07/01/10
  72.   #61 Jew 09:57  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/01/10
  73.   Israel should send a warrant out for Tony Blair 10:27  |  Jake 07/01/10
  74.   Frank nothing new the europeans love anti semitism. 11:44  |  Petra 07/01/10
  75.   It`s much more simple 12:20  |  Sylvie 07/01/10
  76.   No European believes Jews blow up random people as Islamists do 12:26  |  Global Citizen 07/01/10
  77.   #75 Sylvie 13:40  |  Binyamin 07/01/10
  78.   LOVE in the TIMES of WAR of WORDS 15:18  |  Noor AS Oscar 07/01/10
  79.   Forgetting some important things 15:21  |  SystemF 07/01/10
  80.   LOVE in the TIMES of WAR of WORDS 15:22  |  Noor AS Oscar 07/01/10
  81.   Time Israel needs to scale down the mediators ! 16:57  |  Akram Zekaria 07/01/10
  82.   Rubbish 18:20  |  Patrick 07/01/10
  83.   A few instances? 18:37  |  American 07/01/10
  84.   Israeli vs. European Nation Building 18:37  |  utagawa 07/01/10
  85.   Arresting these criminals could save Israel 18:42  |  kraig richard 07/01/10
  86.   Wonder why don`t issue warrants for Chinese or Russian leaders? 18:46  |  DJStahl 07/01/10
  87.   2000 years of huh? 19:06  |  American 07/01/10
  88.   Of course you had a history... 19:16  |  American 07/01/10
  89.   # 62 20:31  |  Suzy 07/01/10
  90.   the smartest analyze in a long time... 22:31  |  Joe W 07/01/10
  91.   #57 03:32  |  J Thomas 08/01/10
  92.   81 reverse the question 04:13  |  Fred Coombes 08/01/10
  93.   Europe remains unwilling to walk in Israel`s shoes. 05:51  |  Concerned observer 08/01/10
  94.   It has only to do with demographics and local politics 07:10  |  ankhfnkhonsu 08/01/10
  95.   12~O Can you explain why the palestinians ... 14:10  |  Akram Zekaria 08/01/10
  96.   #1 Frank 21:24  |  Ron 08/01/10
  97.   #1 Frank 22:32  |  Ron 09/01/10
  98.   Very simple answer 14:49  |  Adam Iqbal 11/01/10
  99.   Natalie D., #3 17:56  |  Michael 11/01/10
  100.   #95 18:02  |  Michael 11/01/10
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