Israel-Europe Relations Strained Under Netanyahu

[Purveyor]

By STEVEN GUTKIN and ANGELA CHARLTON

JERUSALEM — A nasty diplomatic row with Sweden, Norway's decision to divest from an Israeli defense contractor and rising European condemnation of Israeli settlements point to growing friction in the Jewish state's already tricky relationship with Europe.

European countries are taking a notably sharper tone at a time when a new U.S. administration is more willing to take Israel to task. Last winter's Gaza war and the advent of a right-wing government in Israel have fueled increasingly vociferous criticism of Israel on a continent that is home to some of its most important allies and trading partners.

Israel's request for an upgrade in its trade relationship with the European Union has been put on hold. Calls for boycotts of Israel and divestment from Israeli companies have been gaining steam. And tens of thousands of Europeans have taken to the streets in recent months to protest Israeli actions, especially the high civilian toll in its bruising war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

Western Europe, with its sizable Muslim minorities and influential leftist movements, has long been less buoyant about Israel than the United States, with its large Jewish population and conservative political base. Yet the European Union is Israel's biggest trading partner, accounting for about one third of imports and exports.

That could give Europe significant leverage in pushing Israel to stop expanding settlements on lands the Palestinians claim for a future state — the main U.S. and Palestinian demand before resuming Mideast peace talks.

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AP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5irPaYotuldqshfRnrnNrsmAhPNMgD9AJMHK00

[IDFbunny]

1. Just like they gave up the Lockerbie terrorist

to get a better oil deal, Europe will capitulate to Arab demands for the same reason; oil.

[Kurska]

2. Economic ties aren't the only reason

Many European countries have large Muslim minorities, alot of center left parties are trying to coax their votes away from the far left.
Not like Muslim voters have anywhere to go to the right, most right parties are pretty openly antagonist to muslims.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Most Europaean Muslims vote for mainstream left, not far left, parties

Like most Europaeans, they tend to vote for their economic interests (and on average are still relatively economically disadvantaged), and also obviously tend to avoid the parties that are openly xenophobic. In any case, there is considerable exaggeration of the political role that they have in most Europaean countries. In the UK, Muslims constitute 3% of the population; I don't think that there is any country where they are more than 5% - unless perhaps you include guest workers in some countries, and they don't vote.

The idea that Europaeans change their foreign policies to appease Muslim immigrants is almost always a myth, similar to the myth that 'Zionists' have undue influence on foreign policy in America and Europe.

You are right about right-wing parties not liking Muslims - or any immigrant/ non-white group.

[Kurska]

4. France is about 9% Islamic according to wikipedia.

I also should have said this better, Muslims tend to vote for parties that are left of left of center, not far left parties like communists (at least in what data I've seen.)

"The idea that Europaeans change their foreign policies to appease Muslim immigrants is almost always a myth, similar to the myth that 'Zionists' have undue influence on foreign policy in America and Europe"

I wasn't saying that Muslims immigrants control European foreign policy, I'm saying what I thought was pretty obvious, politicians take foreign policy stances that are popular with the voters, taking a stance popular with muslim voters gets you muslim votes. Alot of European countries with poor polling ruling left parties are taking tough stances on Israel, is it somehow wrong to assume some of this might be due to attempts at attracting muslim votes?

I don't think muslims have any more influence on European foreign policy then jews do on American foreign policy and even Obama took great steps to ease concerns of the jewish community before the elections and jews compose just over 1% of America. Addressing minority concerns is the way you get minority votes.

[LeftishBrit]

5. There are widely different reports from France..

most surveys have given figures between 4% and 6.5%. The 9% estimate was a bit of an outlier, and may have included guest workers (who don't really have a political influence).

Muslims have *some* influence, but not as much as is sometimes thought, as they are not usually floating voters: they tend to be reliable votes for the mainstream left. If Muslims had a lot of influence, then the UK would not be in Iraq or Afghanistan; France would not have strong pro-secularism laws; the tabloids would not attack them so much; and Europe would be a bit more conservative on *social* issues.

I suppose I'm a little sensitive about possible over-attributions of political influence to either Jews or Muslims, as this is often used as an excuse for hostility and xenophobia by the George Galloways (Jews), Melanie Phillipses (Muslims), and Pat Buchanans (both) of the world.

I think that oil is responsible for a lot of pro-Arab sentiment. But I also think that the tensions between Europe and Israel are not just on one side, and that Netanyahu is a xenophobic-isolationist with more in common with Buchanan than either would like to admit, and is not very keen on Europaeans, even Jewish ones.