If Bush favors Israel, Europeans willing to promote Palestinian aims

[Violet_Crumble]

JERUSALEM, April 26 (JTA) — After what it sees as President Bush’s tilt toward Israel, the European Union is indicating that it wants to play a larger role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — with an eye toward promoting Palestinian interests.
In a series of under-reported statements after Bush’s perceived watershed meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on April 14, senior European officials have been hinting at greater European involvement on the ground and a new get-tough policy with Israel.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on April 21, Chris Patten, the E.U.’s commissioner for external relations, declared bluntly that the Europeans are ready to help rehabilitate the Gaza Strip after Israel’s promised withdrawal next year, on condition that the Israel Defense Forces guarantee “not to destroy again what we build.”

Speaking in Tel Aviv the same day, Giancarlo Chevallard, the E.U.’s ambassador to Israel, warned that the European Union intends to link the level of ties with Israel to the Jewish state’s “commitment to peacemaking.”

Top European officials also have been meeting with their American counterparts to coordinate the precise role the union can play in the context of the Gaza withdrawal. This will be discussed further early next month at a meeting of the “Quartet” — a diplomatic grouping of the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia that produced the “road map” peace plan.

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=14021&intcategoryid=1

[Classical_Liberal]

1. It's about time the EU give up on the idea that their can

be real American leadership in this area. John Kerry's performance on MTP makes this clear.

[Classical_Liberal]

2. The most important three paragraphs in the article were this

The Europeans are not making do with mere criticism: They intend to use their economic clout to exert political pressure on Israel. Europe is Israel’s largest trading partner, and Israel has a preferential trade agreement with E.U. countries.

It took Israel years to negotiate the agreement, and for years it has been trying to upgrade it. Now the Europeans say bluntly that they intend to create a linkage between their economic ties with Israel and the way Israel deals with the Palestinian issue.

At his Tel Aviv news conference April 21, Chevallard declared that “up till now we kept the strengthening of bilateral relations with Israel separate from the regional diplomatic process. From this point on they will be part of one complex

[Name removed]

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[Classical_Liberal]

4. You mean Bush understands the realities of the conflict?

. Europes position isn't based on antisemitism. Unless you want to argue the Nazies won. It is no more antisemitic than Carter advocacy of Israel getting out of the Sinai. The position is based on the fact of the stolen land on the west bank and the inability to create a Palestinian state unless Israel gives it up.

[sushi]

5. It's nice to read

the EU is ready to help rehabilitate Gaza. I hope they start as soon as Israel pulls out.

[number6]

6. Bush is hand puppet shared by Cheney and Sharon

he has no credibility