Israel could become pariah state - warns gov. report

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-10-14 11:23am

Associated Press wrote:Oct 13, 2:09 PM EDT

Israeli Says Country Will Become Isolated

By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel is set on a collision course with the European Union and could turn into a pariah state, like South Africa during the apartheid years, if the Mideast conflict is not resolved, Israel's Foreign Ministry warns in a confidential 10-year forecast.

The document, put together by the ministry's Center for Political Research, says the EU is pushing to become a major global player in the next decade, and as a result, the United States, Israel's main ally, could lose international influence. The forecast, written for internal consumption, was obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The analysts wrote that if the EU, a 25-nation alliance, overcomes internal divisions and speaks in one voice, its global influence would grow considerably, and be more in line with its powerful economy.

A more influential Europe would likely demand greater Israeli compliance with international conventions and could try to limit Israel's freedom of action in its conflict with the Palestinians, the 25-page document said. Israel might also have to pay a price for growing competition between the European Union and the United States.

Israel-EU relations have long been shaky, and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has repeatedly warned that Israel has to work to strengthen ties with Europe. However, Israel accuses the Europeans of pro-Palestinian bias and complains of a growing wave of anti-Semitism in parts of Europe.

EU officials in Brussels said that while the EU and Israel have sound relations in trade and scientific research, they have definite differences over Mideast peacemaking.

They also said the alliance 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 Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank and a major military offensive in Gaza.

The EU says Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 must be followed by major troop withdrawals in the West Bank, and pave the way for Palestinian statehood. "None of this is exactly what the Israelis want to hear, but we have to say it," Gallach said.

She said the Israeli government wants to broaden the relationship with Europe, without giving the EU a bigger role in resolving the Mideast conflict.

According to the Foreign Ministry document, which was written in August, Israel could become increasingly isolated in the coming years if Europe becomes more influential.

"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.

Israel has accused the United Nations of being biased against Israel.

Even if the EU fails to become a major international player, Israel will still become increasingly isolated if it fails to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians, according to the document, which was also quoted in reports Wednesday by Israel Army Radio and the Israeli daily Haaretz.

In the best possible outcome, with the Mideast conflict moving toward solution, Israel and the European Union would still not be on good terms, the document said. "In almost every scenario, there is the potential for friction in Israel-EU relations," the analysts wrote.

Ron Prosor, director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, said Israel is investing a great deal in improving ties with the EU, especially in economic areas.

"The situation is not easy, but there is an investment here, especially in Europe, that is important to us all," Prosor told Israel's Army Radio.

Europe is Israel's major trading partner.

However, the Foreign Ministry analysts wrote that there is no substitute for Israel's close political alliance with the United States.

EU ambassador to Israel Giancarlo Chevallard wrote on the delegation's Web-site that when it comes to the Mideast conflict, Israel "tends to keep Europe at arms length and prefers to place all its eggs in the American basket."

© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Well Israel has been operating an system of apartheid bundled with ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories for years now it’s only fair that it should get the “pariah state” status it so richly deserves or at the very least lost it’s favoured nation trading status, I’m not holding my breathe though.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-10-15 08:50am

shalom is known to be a dickhead. it´s not the first time that he accuses the EU of antisemitism for merely disagreeing with israels politics.

fuck off.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-10-15 09:12am

My only point about this, is that this report has been covered only in the army radio and in an 'intellectual' paper, meaning the vast majority dosn't know about this.

Dickshits like sharon, and ignorant idiots that comprise most of our population are fucking making the situation worse.

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-10-15 09:18am

Ace Pace wrote:My only point about this, is that this report has been covered only in the army radio and in an 'intellectual' paper, meaning the vast majority dosn't know about this.

Dickshits like sharon, and ignorant idiots that comprise most of our population are fucking making the situation worse.

As far as you can tell would you say that there is much concern amongst the Israeli population about potentially becoming a pariah nation if as you say people like Sharon continue to make the situation worse?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-10-15 09:38am

Plekhanov wrote: As far as you can tell would you say that there is much concern amongst the Israeli population about potentially becoming a pariah nation if as you say people like Sharon continue to make the situation worse?

Much concern? not really, while politicians may wave around on foreign issue's, only 2 words get attention here in this matter, "U.S\Arabs", if its not those 2, people shrug.

However, thats not to say there isn't concern, just not alot of it.

Right now, I would continue supporting sharon if only because hes the only chance of the disengagement happening, the left is too weak and has no allies in the center, the religious groupies will never agree (their threatening civil war

) and most of the right says no.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-15 10:00am

Oh I get it. If you're not praising the Jewish, you're anti-semitic. Gotcha.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-10-15 10:29am

I hate that "criticize Israel = antisemitism" argument. Does this mean that critics of Mainland China must be racists?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-15 10:31am

It's the Jewish ace-in-the-hole. Because they've had such a hard and tear-jerking past, we must be obliged to always give a shit and treat them as the poor picked on race in the world (nevermind other people being oppressed just as bad). So any criticism against Israel is obviously the result of anti-semitic views and probably down to a mental state approaching Neo-Nazism.

See, Israel can do no wrong.