Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., May 11, 2008 Iyyar 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:59 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 17:34 08/05/2008
British PM: Israel`s creation one of the 20th century`s `greatest achievements`
By DPA and Haaretz Service
Tags: Shimon Peres, Nicolas Sarkozy 

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday congratulated Israel on its 60th anniversary of independence, calling the state's creation of of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th Century.

During an event marking the anniversary at a London synagogue, the British leader said that Israel has faced "immense threats" since its creation and called for a future where the "children of Abraham" would live together in peace as part of the same extended family.

He also said that the British government was ready to support the Middle East peace process by contributing funds to aid Palestinian infrastructure.
Advertisement
The European Union on Thursday also congratulated Israel on the 60th anniversary, with officials vowing to forge even closer ties with the Middle Eastern state.

The head of the bloc's executive, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said Israel's significance for Europeans went "beyond normal forms of cooperation with a close neighbour."

"Both the European Union and the state of Israel were born out of the same great convulsion of the Second World War and the Shoah," Barroso said in a message.

"In its 60 years as an independent state, Israel has had to contend with many challenges. Yet through it all it has continued to adapt, develop and prosper.

"We now take almost for granted impressive Israeli achievements in fields such as science and technology, industry, agriculture, education and the arts. In retrospect, we can only wonder at how all this was achieved under such difficult circumstances," Barroso added.

The commission chief noted that the EU and Israel were already cooperating on a range of issues such as climate change, counter-terrorism "and the fight against racism and anti-Semitism".

The EU is Israel's main trading partner and Israel is the only non-European country to participate in the EU's Research and Development programme, noted External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

"Hundreds of project proposals by Israeli researchers have received EU funding, for example developing innovative cancer diagnostic techniques, hydrogen cars, machine translation techniques. Also, Israeli students are benefiting from scholarships under the EU's Erasmus Mundus exchange programme," Ferrero-Waldner told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

And Israel is now close to being granted "special status" within the EU's neighbourhood policy, officials in Brussels said.

Such a special status might include deals in the area of air transport, higher education, trade in agricultural products and services, social security, customs, information society, environment as well as consumer protection.

"The EU and Israel are closer now than they were ever before," the
commissioner said.

Other European dignitaries on Thursday also sent their well wishes to Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wrote to Peres "It gives me particular pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, on the sixtieth anniversary of your Independence. I extend my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of Israel in the coming year."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote: "As you know, France has always been committed to Israel's security and to the quest for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, to which the peoples of the region aspire. As in the past, France will continue to stand by you and to work together with you toward this goal, in order to end the suffering of the Israelis and the Palestinians, which has been going on far too long."

Sarkozy explained that Peres' last visit to Paris was an important one even in the development of the relations between the two states, and voiced hope that this close relationship will deepen when he comes to visit Israel in June.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano also sent his congratulations, as did Irish President Mary McAleese, Austrian President Heinz Fischer and many more.


Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS: Sarkozy's Holocaust education plan baffles Jews
  • Italy joins EU drive for more Iran sanctions
  • Report: Turkey looks to convene 3-way meet with Israeli, Syrian reps
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Siniora vs. Hezbollah
    The Lebanon prime minister accuses Hezbollah of staging a coup.
    Powerless in Gaza
    Palestinians say tha Gaza power plant has closed due to a fuel shortage.
      1.   Up to 120, Israel 21:24  |  Frank Brandse 07/05/08
      2.   It`s a week early 22:16  |  .._ 07/05/08
      3.   Nishikot, brachot ve harbeh ahavah mi meni le Israel 22:23  |  AliciaYasmeen 07/05/08
      4.   2-Wrong. Jewish calendar is 5 IYAR. 00:02  |  but never too early 08/05/08
      5.   to #2. Iom Hazmaout on Yiar 5 00:08  |  HS 08/05/08
      6.   happy new year Israel!!! 00:12  |  WAJNBERG 08/05/08
      7.   I`m not a world leader, but to all the Israelis 00:14  |  Lynn 08/05/08
      8.   reply to #2 00:20  |  S. 08/05/08
      9.   We`re not celebrating Israel`s anniversary 00:20  |  Naji 08/05/08
      10.   Felicidades! 01:12  |  Pepe 08/05/08
      11.   Congratulations to Israel? 01:12  |  Ben 08/05/08
      12.   Fascists celebrate whilst decent men everywhere mourn. 01:15  |  Canalau, Tova 08/05/08
      13.   Early greetings... 01:50  |  Webster 08/05/08
      14.   Mazel Tov from Australia 02:30  |  Eli B 08/05/08
      15.   Enjoy it while it lasts 03:00  |  refugee 08/05/08
      16.   and 60 yrs of giving the shaft to the palestinians 03:43  |  bashar 08/05/08
      17.   long life ISRAEL 04:07  |  issam 08/05/08
      18.   Israel ? years 04:56  |  Commonsesns 08/05/08
      19.   Israel ? years 04:57  |  Commonsense 08/05/08
      20.   refugee 05:04  |  Rory 08/05/08
      21.   sixth decade of the reborn of a beloved israel 05:57  |  edmond eskenazi 08/05/08
      22.   "Shafted" #6 06:23  |  David Cohen 08/05/08
      23.   to #12 06:29  |  Mark 08/05/08
      24.   What a load of hypocrites? 07:40  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
      25.   We`re not celebrating Israel`s anniversary 08:11  |  Naji 08/05/08
      26.   Israel`s 60th Birthday 09:12  |  Clickfool 08/05/08
      27.   Long live Israel! Happy 60th B`Day! 09:12  |  FinnoUgric 08/05/08
      28.   Afterbirth # 21 09:25  |  Clickfool 08/05/08
      29.   Thank you Queen Elizabeth, but I would wish that you and your ... 09:39  |  Dubi 08/05/08
      30.   To # 9 Naji - Only ONE SIDE of the story..... 10:22  |  Dolly 08/05/08
      31.   Reply to # 27 H M The Queen 10:35  |  Tony 08/05/08
      32.   # 27 H M Government 10:40  |  Gordon 08/05/08
      33.   An invitation to her Majesty 11:02  |  Miche Norman 08/05/08
      34.   Naji 11:13  |  Lev 08/05/08
      35.   Congratulations Israel! 11:15  |  Lev 08/05/08
      36.   ISRAEL HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 11:24  |  dovale 08/05/08
      37.   #9 you know history well, not 11:31  |  George London 08/05/08
      38.   TO CLICKFOOL # 25 11:37  |  dovale 08/05/08
      39.   Congratulations Israel! 12:10  |  Guido Joris 08/05/08
      40.   Roy Roy 12:20  |  Refugee 08/05/08
      41.   LONG LIVE ISRAEL 12:21  |  anyuci 08/05/08
      42.   Dubi, neo-socialists in Britain? Those who attempt to incorporate 12:22  |  Petra 08/05/08
      43.   Why does Israel refuse to allow Palestine to exist? 14:35  |  POP 08/05/08
      44.   #12 Canalau , Israel is the leading democracy among all 14:43  |  Max Horoskopski 08/05/08
      45.   # 15 Refugee in America, Wake Up and look around 14:48  |  Max Horoskopski 08/05/08
      46.   #12 I think its a few hundred yrs you`ll wait 14:50  |  topanga 08/05/08
      47.   Naji#9 Shame on you! 14:53  |  Mickey 08/05/08
      48.   #42 POP; Palestininas exist in Jordan. 65% of Palestinians 14:58  |  Max Horoskopski 08/05/08
      49.   # 29 Dubi, You are naive The Queen goes through formal ethicate 15:06  |  Max Zamir 08/05/08
      50.   Clickfool # 26.28. 15:37  |  David Nigel Braham 08/05/08
      51.   For Dubi # 29 15:56  |  Clickfool 08/05/08
      52.   Great recipes on the 60th Birthday page 16:00  |  Clickfool 08/05/08
      53.   #24 Egyptians are Hypocrites. Persecuted its Jews 16:18  |  EgyptJewRefugee 08/05/08
      54.   She refuses to go to Israel 16:21  |  Liliane 08/05/08
      55.   1 million Jewish Refugees from Arab countries 16:24  |  Laila 08/05/08
      56.   They created it! Sure they should feel proud of themselves! 16:31  |  American 08/05/08
      57.   I do underst 16:43  |  Vital 08/05/08
      58.   To 12 - Canalau 16:50  |  Vital 08/05/08
      59.   Happy birthday Israelis! 17:34  |  STRANGER 08/05/08
      60.   Ben #11 - No worries you would not be allowed entry 17:38  |  Johnny 08/05/08
      61.   what the world celebrates 17:43  |  curious george 08/05/08
      62.   Brown:Israel`s creation one of the 20th century`s `greatest...... 18:00  |  Conroy 08/05/08
      63.   Click Fool 18:02  |  Gimpel the Fool 08/05/08
      64.   YEAH, OF COURSE 18:05  |  indrajaya 08/05/08
      65.   Thank you Britsh 18:20  |  Jose Pedro 08/05/08
      66.   Zero-sum "game..." 18:22  |  bat yam 08/05/08
      67.   "EU and Israel were born out of the same great convulsion of WW2? 18:23  |  Moise 08/05/08
      68.   Clickfool thinks? 18:32  |  Fish 08/05/08
      69.   to Naji # 9 18:57  |  Bengurion 08/05/08
      70.   #15-You stay as a "refugee" inTinseltown-IL will B around forever 19:01  |  Alan SA 08/05/08
      71.   Congrats Israel - God Bless. Friends from India