by Zalman Shoval
The main point is not necessarily the argument over "two states" -- and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already explained Israel's position in this regard -- but the EU's desire to unilaterally dictate formulas that do not take Israel's most basic interests into consideration, all while adhering to the Palestinians' most extreme demands.
Once the new Israeli
government was formed, European dignitaries began visiting at an
increased rate, arriving with warnings that Israel must soon launch a
"diplomatic initiative" to renew negotiations with the Palestinian
Authority, or expect growing pressure in the form of various concrete
measures.
According to their
declarations, the Europeans intend to "play a leading role in
re-launching the peace process based on the two-state solution," largely
predicated on the French proposal to immediately resume talks with a
timetable of a year and a half to draft a final status agreement, after
which, if a deal is not reached, "France will recognize Palestine as a
state."
As the wording of the
proposal illustrates, France's whip is aimed strictly at Israel and on
the surface seems to lack any type of balanced approach between the
sides. The expressions of supposed concern for the Israeli position and
Jerusalem's interests are mostly lip service. For instance, when the
French mention "the security arrangements Israel requires," they do not
explain how they intend to ensure such arrangements, which would have to
include a demilitarized Palestine, safe borders, and the like. This is
the proposal, which treats the establishment of a Palestinian state as a
foregone conclusion and does not allow Israel any say over the security
limitations to be placed on the Palestinians.
It is difficult not to
notice the European Union's undertone that it has decided to support the
establishment of a Palestinian state, even without any real
negotiations and regardless of Israel's positions on the matter.
Several European
countries are indeed friends and overt supporters of Israel, as they
have been for many years, but when it comes to the Palestinian issue it
appears other countries are setting the tone, perhaps also because of
their own demographic reality, as in France, for example. It is
possible, though, that the EU's unraveling seams, demonstrated by
Britain's threat to withdraw from it, could actually work in Israel's
favor over time.
In a fairer and more
ethical world, it would be possible to expect Europe, of all places,
with all its history concerning the Jewish people, to unite in an
unwavering effort to combat anti-Semitism, whether in its more ancient
form or in its new anti-Zionist and anti-Israel disguise, and to try
curbing academic and economic boycotts. In reality, it is actually
considering measures that would leave Israel alone in the face of its
enemies' machinations.
The main point is not
necessarily the argument over "two states" -- and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has already explained Israel's position in this
regard -- but the EU's desire to unilaterally dictate formulas that do
not take Israel's most basic interests into consideration, all while
adhering to the Palestinians' most extreme demands.
It comes as no
surprise, then, that the Palestinians are encouraged by the statements
coming from the EU and are hardening their stance accordingly. PA
President Mahmoud Abbas, "the angel of peace," says the Palestinian
refugees in Syria must not relinquish their right of return, and his
chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat, "the deputy angel," announced following a
meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini that the
Palestinians would be willing to renew talks with Israel only if it
first agrees to all the preconditions.
This is not the first
time (and certainly won't be the last) that Europe has tried making its
mark on the Palestinian issue while outflanking the United States, but
we can hope that, as in the past, Washington will take the wind out of
its sails. Indeed, we received an encouraging sign over the weekend that
despite the differences of opinion over the Iranian nuclear program,
the Obama administration is sticking to traditional U.S. policies when
it comes to Israel's vital interests, not only on security assistance,
but, perhaps even more importantly, by defeating the Egyptian initiative
to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.
We must hope this positive
approach will be applied to the French proposal as well, when it is
presented in the coming weeks to the U.N. Security Council. As a
practical conclusion, it is clear the American viewpoint must continue
to play a central role in whatever diplomatic initiatives the Israeli
government chooses to pursue.
Zalman Shoval
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=12687
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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