America's retreat from the woes of the world is worrying its friends in the Middle
East. Jihadists are surging through Iraq; Syria uses chemical weapons
without retribution; and the latest American attempt to solve the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict has failed. Is it time for Europe to help
fill the vacuum?
Europeans always dream of exerting global influence commensurate with
their economic weight. The Middle East’s problems have a way of washing
up on Europe’s shores, be it boat people landing on the Mediterranean
coast, or terrorists returning after being hardened by
jihad in one or other civil war. And yet Europeans are struggling to be heard.
Take this week’s visit to Israel by José Manuel Barroso, president of
the European Commission. He expanded on what, in another time or place,
would be a big promise: if and when the Israelis and Palestinians make
peace, the EU stands ready to offer economic integration akin to that
enjoyed by Norway and Switzerland. In Ukraine the power of a similar
offer precipitated a civil war and geopolitical contest with Russia; in
the Holy Land, though, the promise of “special privileged partnerships”
was barely noticed. It is striking, that, separately, Israel chose not
to vote in March on a UN motion sponsored by the West to condemn
Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
If America elicits less respect from Israel these days, Europe is the
object of much scorn. Europe is remembered as a Jewish graveyard and,
latterly, is regarded as an economic basket-case. Even collectively, it
packs far less military punch than America. The French- and British-led
intervention that toppled Muammar Qaddafi in Libya has left a violent
mess.
The European Union’s 28 member-states are divided between big,
small, old and new members and, when it comes to Israel, between the
guilt-ridden (Germany) and the disapproving (Sweden).
As with much else, EU foreign-policy positions are finely balanced
compromises, so even important moves are lost in woolly formulations.
Seeking to keep Israeli-Palestinian peace talks alive after John Kerry,
the American secretary of state, declared a “pause” in his mediation, Mr
Barroso said the hiatus was “untenable in the long run”; peace with the
Palestinians was in Israel’s best security interest.
America is of paramount importance to Israel’s security. But Europe
makes several vital contributions. Its sanctions on Iran helped bring
the mullahs to the negotiating table; its money keeps the Palestinian
Authority alive as a negotiating partner for Israel; and Europe is
central in managing the Syrian refugee crisis.
To be heard, Europeans need to speak clearly about what a two-state
solution means: the end of Israeli occupation of land captured in 1967
(with agreed land swaps and a deal on Jerusalem), but also the end of
further Palestinian claims on the Jewish state created in 1948.
Palestinian refugees will, overwhelmingly, return to the new state of
Palestine, not their old homes in Israel.
Read more:Charlemagne: A promise barely noticed | The Economis
