-Caveat Lector- Europe badly needs a change of course BY GERALD M. STEINBERG ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Nov. 28, 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --
The upheaval in the Middle East, set in motion by the violent destruction of the Oslo formula and the confrontation with Saddam Hussein, will have a fundamental impact on Europe. These crises exposed deep-seated policy failures, and if Europe is to avoid the threats emanating from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and from escalating terrorism and explosive instability, its leaders must learn to confront rather than run away from reality. To play a serious role in the American-led "Quartet" more of a duet, with the UN and Russia in token roles the myths must be erased and the relationship with Israel rebuilt. After years of religious faith that comprehensive peace was inevitable, the EU's policies in the Middle East have collapsed with the Palestinian Authority. For a decade European officials worked closely with the Israeli Labor Party and were taken in by Yasser Arafat's double game, ignoring the contradictory evidence on the ground. Victims of Palestinian attacks, as well as Europe's taxpayers, are demanding an accounting for the money that was blindly pumped into Arafat's terrorist kleptocracy. Similarly, European members of parliament are realizing that they supported Palestinian textbooks that did not include a single map with the name "Israel," books that continue to teach children to hate. Europe has also adopted the Palestinian version of history that started in 1967 with "occupation" and "settlements," as well as the myths blaming Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton for Arafat's stone-walling at Camp David. It is apparently easier for many Europeans to blame Israel than accept the reality of a continuing pan-Arab war against Israel's existence. Diplomats and "intellectuals" in Paris, Stockholm, Madrid and Berlin also cling to the self-serving myth that "decisive American pressure on Israel" can bring about a magic solution, as if Israel were a two-bit colony willing to forgo its security and risk its survival. Meanwhile, Finland refuses to sell Israel protective equipment against chemical attacks and Britain has suspended shipments of arms that Israel needs for its defense. More than two years of brutal terrorism and dozens of phony cease-fire declarations have failed to push Europe into developing a more mature approach. In Brussels, Yossi Beilin and Co. are still regarded as Israel's true governing class, Ha'aretz is mistakenly considered to reflect public opinion, and the consensus leaders, under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, are disdained as temporary aberrations. With no understanding of the complexities of Israeli democracy, these myths are sustained by false hopes of a pliable Labor Party under new Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna. Miguel Moratinos, the European Commission's special envoy to the Middle East, whose experience is limited to Morocco and North Africa, hops from salon to salon holding meaningless discussions. At the same time, Europe's structural links with Israel are tied to the 1995 Barcelona framework, in which all the members, including Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and North Africa, have the same status. This framework allowed the EU to shove Israeli democracy and open society under the same rubric as the repressive regimes of Egypt and Syria. On this basis the EU's ambassador to Israel justifies funding for extremist groups and offensive propaganda, such as the pamphlet published by the Israeli branch of Physicians for Human Rights, as being similar to the EU's human-rights program in Egypt, when the analogy should instead be to a situation in which the American government was funding extremist anti-abortion groups seeking to influence Europe's democracies. This analogy might help Europe grasp the differences between Israel and the Arab dictatorships, as well as avoid the perversion of human rights for Israel-bashing. EUROPE'S MORAL claims are also undermined by its failure to do more than issue routine condemnations of brutal Palestinian terror. In some cases, there is even the argument that the perennial and "powerless Palestinian victims" have no other weapon. With the Holocaust relegated to a distant memory in Europe, this inaction, coupled with attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions and pro-Palestinian demonstrations that ignore terror, leads many Jews to conclude that anti-Semitism remains a very potent force. France's former ambassador to the UK has not been the only one to refer to Israel as "that shitty little country." Taken together, these factors have created a deepening crisis in relations between the EU and Israel and blocked any positive influence. Europe needs an honest and fundamental reassessment, with a consideration of new structures, one that requires different people not wedded to the old myths. A new generation of European policy makers for the Middle East will have to learn the real history, stripped of the demonization of Israel that is peddled by politically correct intellectuals and journalists. The failure of the Barcelona process and structure should be recognized and replaced by a singular relationship in which Israel and the EU can cooperate without reference to Egypt, Morocco or Syria. If the post-Saddam era finally opens a window of freedom in the Arab world, the southern European states, along with Israel, Turkey and emerging Arab democracies, will form the foundation of an important political structure. For Europe's leaders, and particularly Greece, which assumes the EU presidency in January, these challenges are probably far too ambitious. But progress can begin by finally acknowledging this painful reality, rather than wasting another six months on meaningless gestures based on outdated concepts and myths. Europe has a great deal to offer. The time for changing course is long overdue. The writer is director of the Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation at Bar-Ilan University. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Show Full&cid=1038465363510 <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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