What's the model for success? Paris?
Posted on 11/06/2005 9:14:23 PM PST by emiller
Israel's inner cabinet voted on November 1st to request the European Union to monitor and secure the Egyptian-Gaza border. Sylvan Shalom, Israel's foreign minister, told Haaretz, "Our objective is for the Europeans to have enforcement capabilities in the field, and not just a symbolic presence".
That Israel would rely on the Europeans to help guarantee any dimension of a developing Israeli-Palestinian peace is a significant shift. It certainly presents a major foreign policy challenge for the EU, which has offered itself in many roles but not as an enforcer. But it also shows Israel's underlying desire for a stronger relationship with Europe.
The new reality is growing interest in the possibility for Israel to become a full member of the EU. Historical, cultural, and most importantly economic elements continue to bind Israel to Europe, and the EU relationship can be critical for the Israeli economy in coming decades. As a result, Europe now has an unprecedented opportunity to step up to the plate, restart the stalled "road map," which is set to expire in December, and act as a peace broker to clear the biggest obstacle to Israel's ascension into the Union-Israelis' unresolved conflict with Palestinians.
As far back as 1946, David Ben-Gurion imagined Israel as a part of the British Commonwealth, with a status similar to that of New Zealand and Australia. Politicians as diverse as Simon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu and Sylvan Shalom have all supported the idea of Israeli membership in the EU. Clearly, interest exists in Israel. But while both Spain and Italy have expressed interest, the process has never been taken seriously by the majority of European nations or their citizens.
This latest request of Israel for the EU to play a major role in Israel's security should come as a welcome recognition in Brussels. It hands this 25-nation confederacy an unprecedented opportunity to play a decisive role in brokering peace between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli leadership has demonstrated time and again that it fears a univocal European policy that could hold both sides' feet to the fire of reform. This fear is a potent symbol of the new power that can be wielded by Europe in the interests of international peace.
For Israel, EU membership would not only provide a strong security guarantee, but would afford them all of the economic advantages of the vast EU market. For the security establishment, it could possibly mean even opening the door to membership in NATO. The EU and Israel already have a formal Cooperation Agreement—ratified five years ago by the Knesset, Israel's parliament— and this relationship has influenced economic, political and cultural exchanges. As recently as last week, the Council of European Ministers voted in favor of allowing Israel to join the Euro-Mediterranean cumulation of origin zone, which will have enormous financial benefits for the Israeli textile industry.
The European consensus on what Israelis and Palestinians need to do for peace is well known. To gain entry into the EU, Israel would need to negotiate a peace agreement with the Palestinians largely consistent with Security Council resolution 242-almost certainly similar to the terms proposed in the Geneva Initiative—and to settle its border dispute with Syria in the Golan.
In addition, Israel will, like every other candidate member, have to comply with the majority of the Copenhagen criteria for the EU member candidates. The common legal basis exists: Israeli governing bodies, legal and economic systems are all modeled on the British system. As an EU member at peace with its neighbors, Israel would bolster Europe's status as a world leader and international power broker. This would also provide Israelis with the security and membership in a community of nations that accept and protect them and to give the Palestinians their best hope for statehood in the long battle for sovereignty.
Israel should do all it can to reach toward the stability and economic vitality promised by closer ties with Europe. The EU should seize this opportunity to step fully into its new role as a major power and use that influence to facilitate the long awaited final status resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
Call me "psychic"....
Actually you just read the "end of the Book" and thus know the ultimate outcome....
What's the model for success? Paris?
1. Israel would never be accepted in the EU, since it is no European country.
2. Nations with open conflicts are usually not accepted inside the EU.
3. The member nations of the EU are for sure not interested in joining their fight against all of Arabia.
4. Some of the member nations have better relations with the enemys of Israel than with Israel itself.
5. Israel is simply not important enough to European countries due to its small population and economy for takeing a firm stand on its side.
6. Pro Israel: Germany; maybe Poland. Against Israel: The rest.
Sad but true.
"Psychic?" No, that's doubtful, but perhaps you've read the Bible? ;o)
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Does it make me a bad guy that the scene warms my heart?
And Turkey is? It is one of two designated candidate countries along with Croatia. Bulgaria and Romania will be admitted in 2007. Tunisa entered into an Association Agreement with the EU in 1995. Morocco submitted applications to join the EU several times but was turned down.
A small part of Turkey is on European soil. Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are clearly European countries.
It is nothing special that the EU has treaties with countries like Tunesia or Israel. But they never have a chance to become members.
P.S.
Turkey is likely to become a member in the long run, since this country is extremely important to Europe with its 70 million inhabitants. Politically and economically. Because the Turks have high economic growth (8.2 %) and a GDP of roundabout 510 billion US$ it is a interesting export market to the west European nations. Through the widespread Turkish immigrants in west European nations there are extremly close ties between Turkey and Europe.
This is for sure not the case with Israel, no matter what lip-service European politicans do. We shouldn't forget that Israel is a small nation with only 6 million inhabitants. The sole reason that it is still existing are the massive backings of the US. America is by far their biggest export and import partner. Their economy has no chance to develop as long the intifada will continue (just like the French economy :-)). Their only products are millitary BS and some fruit. The EU has more than enough of such stuff on its own. The exclusive reason to take Israel as a member nation of the EU would be political solidarity. Since Israel has de facto no friends in Europe, they better not expect any solidarity. I think that they continue to be completely dependent on the US as long as the Arabs will hate them.
As I said: Sad but true. Don't get me wrong - personally I have great respect of Israel since I am on their side and I have some family there. But because I know west European politics I try to see those things simply rational. In difference to the US, jews have no jewish lobby in Europe anymore (due to Hitlers nameless crimes). Therefore it will be difficult to get Europe on their side.
Yes, the Greeks are very aware of that. Byzantium or Constantinopolis was not always part of Turkey or the Ottoman Empire. Having lived three years in Athens, the Greeks have long memories. 1453 happened yesterday.
Turkey is likely to become a member in the long run, since this country is extremely important to Europe with its 70 million inhabitants. Politically and economically. Because the Turks have high economic growth (8.2 %) and a GDP of roundabout 510 billion US$ it is a interesting export market to the west European nations. Through the widespread Turkish immigrants in west European nations there are extremly close ties between Turkey and Europe.
It is for the reasons that you cite that Turkey won't become a member of the EU. Turkey is still the "sick man of Europe" economically and politically. The EU is playing a game with Turkey about inclusion into the union. They have allowed the Greeks to be the point man in the opposition to their inclusion, but the rest of the EU doesn't recognize the Turks (read the Ottomans) as being Europeans.
The huge Turkish population of foreign workers in Germany, the largest in Europe, has not been integrated into Germany despite being there for generations. The cultural and religious differences have not been bridged, and given what is going on now with Muslim immigrants in France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, etc., it will not be for generations to come. Things will get worse before they get better.
It should also be noted that Turkey will have to make a giant leap economically to meet the criteria for joining the EU.
This is simply wrong. You shouldn't believe only in things you want to believe in. I employ some Turks in my own enterprise. They do a really good job and are completely integrated in the German society although they still are muslims. It is true that it was long way for them to arrive in their new homeland. After 2 or 3 generations they integrated completely. There are of course always some left who will never make it. But they are not too many.
It should also be noted that Turkey will have to make a giant leap economically to meet the criteria for joining the EU.
This is true, but Turkey is developing very fast. Wait and see.
We will agree to disagree. I lived four years in Berlin (1983-87), my wife is German, and my daughter will be going to Berlin to study in two months.
In Germany, all immigrant workers face a number of legal liabilities. Federal law (the Auslaendergesetz of 1965) gives the state the right to restrict their freedom of assembly, association, movement and choice of occupation.
Employed workers from other European Union countries have automatically renewable residence permits. Non-EU workers, including Turks (Turkey is not a full member of the Community), qualify as permanent resident aliens only after eight years of continuous work and residence. This problem is especially acute for second and third generation immigrants who speak German as a native language and would find it difficult to reintegrate into Turkish society.
One of the problems is that under a 1913 German law, citizenship is generally limited to those of German descent and the law excludes from citizenship children born and raised in Germany by foreign nationals. Also, in order to obtain German citizenship, one must renounce other nationalities, thus prohibiting dual citizenship. This creates a problem for many of the Turkish immigrants because renouncing one's Turkish citizenship has many drawbacks, including making it impossible to inherit land in Turkey.
I assume it still takes 15 years to qualify for citizenship. How many Turks out of the population of over 2.5 million (including 400,000 Kurds) are citizens of Germany? I have seen estimates of around 200,000. That doesn't sound like integration to me.
"The Whore Lived Like a German"
This is true, but Turkey is developing very fast. Wait and see.
Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. Inflation, in recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to 9.3% by 2004 - a 30-year low. Despite these strong economic gains in 2002-04, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still plagued with high debt and deficits. The public sector fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to the huge burden of interest payments, which accounted for more than 40% of central government spending in 2004, and to populist spending. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey remains low - averaging less than $1 billion annually.
GDP per capita is $7,400. They have a long way to go to catch up with even the poorest countries of the EU.
Israel joining the EU would result in the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state.
They would not be able to prevent immigration buy muslims, and the muslims would simply move in and vote the Jews out of power, and then use the authority of the government to oppress them.
Democracy requires the free flow of truthful information to operate properly. The palestinians and the residents of other muslim countries have been fed hateful propoganda for generations. A true democracy among the plaestinian people will take a long time to get running. In any case Israel is deserves the right to be a Jewish state if they choose to do so. They do not prevent people from emmigrating if they don't want to live there under those rules. The Jews have made far more than enough concessions to the palestinians who's refugee status is mainly self-imposed.
Israel has nothing to gain by joining the EU.
Actually, a lot of technology comes out of Israel. Lots of scientific research, as well.
I know that they not only produce some fruit and millitary BS. :-) But their economy is for sure not very interesting to the EU because of its ongoing instability. The political price the EU had to pay would be extreme if they really made Israel a member-state.
That said, I do not think Israel should join the EU.
The question is simply hypothetical. The economy and the policy of Israel will stay aligned on America, since there is no political will to back them in Europe. There are some European nations who really help (like Germany i.e.), but the majority do not want to be involved into Israels problems. Therefore a EU-membership is outside of any discussion for the Israelis.
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