Tishrei 29, 5765
A
secret report prepared by the Foreign Ministry warns that Israel's global
standing could deteriorate in the coming decade and could even resemble
the pariah status of apartheid South Africa.
According to the
document, which was written in August by the ministry's Center for
Political Research, Israel and Europe will find themselves on a collision
course that will cause serious economic and diplomatic damage to
Israel.
Israel could become increasingly isolated in the coming
years if Europe becomes more influential, the Foreign Ministry report
says.
"In extreme circumstances, this could put Israel on a
collision course with the European Union. Such a collision course holds
the risk of Israel losing international legitimacy and could lead to its
isolation, in the manner of South Africa," according to the
document.
"The EU could sharpen its expectation that Israel will
comply with international norms ... and honor the authority of the United
Nations and its agencies - an issue that has the potential of leading to
friction," the analysts wrote.
The document says the EU is pushing
to become a major global player in the next decade, and that as a result,
the United States, Israel's main ally, could lose international
influence.
In light of ongoing European criticism of Israeli
policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a more powerful Europe could
weaken Israel's position.
The paper also examines various scenarios
for the development of Israel's relationship with Europe and Russia.
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom has repeatedly warned that Israel
has to work to strengthen ties with Europe, which also accuses of
pro-Palestinian bias, and has expressed concerns over a growing wave of
anti-Semitism in parts of Europe.
The report says a new form of
anti-Semitism is developing in Europe, one which denies Israel's
legitimacy as a sovereign Jewish state.
EU officials in Brussels
said that while the EU and Israel have sound relations in the areas of
trade and scientific research, they have very definite differences of
opinion over Middle East peacemaking.
They also said the EU is
seeking more of a say.
"Regarding the Middle East peace process
and our relations with Israel and the Palestinians, there is no doubt that
the role of the EU has increased," said Christina Gallach, a spokeswoman
for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"We have had difficult
moments [with Israel] when we responded to things like the West Bank wall
and now what is happening in Gaza," Gallach said, referring to the
separation fence in the West Bank and the ongoing major military offensive
in northern Gaza.
Europe fiercely objects to the route of the
fence, and EU foreign ministers called this week for the Israel Defense
Forces to withdraw from the northern Strip.
Gallach said the
Israeli government wants to broaden the relationship with Europe, without
giving the EU a bigger role in resolving the conflict.
"The
situation is not easy but we have a lot of investment, especially in
Europe, that is important to all of us," Foreign Ministry director-general
Ron Prushor told Army Radio on Wednesday.
"When it comes to our
economy, which is geared towards developing markets, we are talking about
a scope of trade totaling $22 billion."