12/03/2012

European-Israeli relationship at a historical low and this will affect more Europe than Israel
Alexander Zanzer

The 193-nation UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the de-facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. Fourteen EU countries voted in favor, 12 abstained and only the Czech Republic joined the United States and Israel in opposing the move. The UN victory for the Palestinians was a diplomatic setback for Israel, which voted against the move to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's observer status at the United Nations to "non-member state" from "entity," like the Vatican.
>> There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions in the vote held 29 November. Three countries did not take part in the vote, held on the 65th anniversary of the adoption of UN resolution 181 that partitioned Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden voted in favor. The Czech Republic was unique in Europe, joining the United States, Israel, Canada, Panama and tiny Pacific Island states likes Nauru, Palau and Micronesia in voting against the move. The EU countries that abstained were Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and United Kingdom. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton made the position clear that the EU had repeatedly expressed its support and wish for Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations as part of a solution to the conflict.

"In any case, the Israeli diplomacy towards Europe has been deteriorating since a long time. Israel considers that European states, in their vast majority, have a negative view on Israeli politics."

In fact, formal recognition of statehood is something that is done bilaterally, not by the United Nations, but it could help Palestinians to become member of ICC, the International Criminal Court. The question can be asked why European states and in fact its citizens support regimes they never would like to live in themselves. In any case, the Israeli diplomacy towards Europe has been deteriorating since a long time. Israel considers that European states, in their vast majority, have a negative view on Israeli politics and consider their apathy to the Jewish State as well as the support for Palestinians as an exorcism of their guilt due to initiation, participation and just for allowing the Shoah to happen. The Palestinian fight against Israel gives Europeans the feeling of finally being able to act anti-Jewish without the associated guilt. Anti-Semitism is part of European DNA, but was suppressed in its expression by the atrocities committed by Europeans on the Jewish population. It becomes fashionable to be anti-Israeli in intellectual circles as a replacement of the anti-Semitic themes of the past.

Besides the obvious anti-Jewish rhetoric, Israel has paid little attention to Europe because Europe has yet to become a nation and has little if no influence on the international diplomatic scene. Instead, Israeli diplomacy concentrates on its relationship with Super Power The United States of America and sometimes tries to improve relationships with Russia and China. Is Israel right in doing so? The loss of European sympathy for the Jewish Nation is a break with its own roots. Yes, Europe is not united, except for the worst decisions, but the states that form Europe have all different attitudes and backgrounds. A factor that plays a role in European attitude towards Israel, is the rising Muslim population which weighs on local elections. Politics, even international ones, are always local and the lack of strong Jewish lobbying in Europe as well in its separate countries is in high contrast with the situation in the United States. Europe has a Jewish-Christian heritage to protect and the adaptation of Arab ideology will at some time backfire and change European reality. You cannot forever support undemocratic, women unfriendly and even barbaric regimes without inviting them to dominate your own environment. Sharia for Europe moves one step forward with every position Europe takes.

Whatever can be said of Israel, its culture is the closest one to Europe in the entire Middle-East. By denouncing Israel, European nations approve terrorism as a way to gain independence and even the destruction of a neighbor. The majority of Palestinians still dont recognize Israel and wish its destruction. Recognition is a bilateral move and Israel cannot recognize a state which dreams of its annihilation. How difficult is this to explain to European politicians? Very difficult it seems. Israels diplomacy has failed, this is a fact, not a presumption. It must put more efforts in bilateral discussions with European nations, European regions and the European Union. It must become more aggressive in its condemnation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic declarations and seek support and alliances with every political movement which extends its hand to the Jewish State. Israeli diplomacy has only a chance to succeed if it supports every Jewish lobbying effort of any Jewish organization active in Europe. The overhaul of Israeli diplomacy towards Europe is a must. But Europeans themselves will realize fast enough that an alliance with Israel is the only protection they will find to preserve their religious heritage and cultural freedom.