Israel, the EU and the PA
The visit of Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to Israel earlier this month was interestingly and happily normal, befitting the visit of a good friend. Italy currently commands UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, so the Minister met with IDF officials and traveled to the north to get a clearer picture of the situation. There were discussions of Iran’s nuclear program and Italy’s trade relations with the Islamic Republic (civilian only, there is no military-related trade).
The visit of Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to Israel earlier this month was interestingly and happily normal, befitting the visit of a good friend. Italy currently commands UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, so the Minister met with IDF officials and traveled to the north to get a clearer picture of the situation. There were discussions of Iran’s nuclear program and Italy’s trade relations with the Islamic Republic (civilian only, there is no military-related trade). The announcement of a new Italian-Israeli “strategic dialogue” fulfills the promise of Prime Minister Berlusconi’s earlier visit, raising bilateral security relations to a new level. [This week, Israel’s Elbit and Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica announced they had teamed to market Elbit’s HMD LITE helmet-mounted display for pilots flying Alenia’s C-27J tactical transport aircraft, recently purchased by the United States Air Force.]
It was a preview of the following week’s unanimous decision by the European Union’s 27 member nations to upgrade relations with Israel on a range of issues, including commerce, the economy, academic ties and increased diplomatic dialogue. According to Ha’aretz, “Israel will join European agencies and working groups with the aim of bringing the Israeli economy closer to European standards, and help Israeli companies more easily contend with the European commercial market, particularly in the fields of high tech and aviation.” In a blow to European academic “boycotters,” increased ties may lead to the recognition of Israeli degrees by European universities and institutions.
It should be noted at this point that lobbying vociferously against the upgraded relationship was Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyed. While the United States drones on endlessly about “strengthening Abu Mazen,” Abu Mazen’s point man was out there trying to drag down Israel’s relations with its primary trading partner.
Fayyed – America’s darling – asked the EU to demand a freeze on Israeli housing and security fence construction. The EU declined, calling instead for “movement” in Israeli-Palestinian talks. Fayyed also sent a letter to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) protesting its invitation to Israel to open membership talks. OECD is mainly European, but includes the United States, Canada and Japan. Israel was invited along with Chile, Estonia, Russia and Slovenia.
We know the PA lives on extortion and doesn’t do economics, but Fayyed was supposed to be better attuned to fiscal realities; he, after all, is the man the United States charged with trying to create transparency and accountability in Palestinian finances, and he is the man who threw in the towel, calling it “virtually impossible.” He surely knows that any hope of a productive Palestinian future is contingent on economic advancement, which requires continuing economic advancement for Israel upon which the PA depends.
Instead, it clearly is PA policy to play “dog in the manger,” more interested in disrupting Israel’s economic and political life than improving the lot of its own people. This should worry the United States and Israel because Fayyed and the PA are pursuing reunification with Hamas in Gaza, and the terms won’t favor American interests.
In an unusual moment, the constellation of European countries, with Italy in the lead, is bringing Israel closer to full economic and social membership in the productive orbit of democratic countries, while the United States makes nice to the PA.