Why Europe Hates Israel

The Wall Street Journal Europe. ^ | 11-28-01 | Bret Stephens

[SJackson]

BRUSSELS -- Yesterday, a Belgian court heard arguments from lawyers representing 23 Palestinians, survivors of the 1982 Sabra and Chatilla massacres near Beirut, that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should be prosecuted in Belgium for crimes against humanity. Though Mr. Sharon almost certainly will never sit in a Belgian jail, the trial could hardly be freighted with more significance.

[stevem]

How much of this attitude manifests itself in the pro-Iraq fetish you are seeing in Europe these days?

[ecomcon]

Europe's fundamental conception of itself as the virtuous defeated, free to pass judgment while absolved of the moral responsibilities of wielding actual power.

That's interesting. Perhaps that is the goal of a "fear of success". Fits right in with the socialist mind set.

[CatoRenasci]

Liberal and socialist guilt may be a factor, but the underlying motivation is anti-semitism. I know and work with a lot of Europeans, educated and wealthy for the most part. The attitudes they express towards Jews reflect a deep and abiding anti-semitism, not of the Nazi "kill 'em off" kind, but more like American anti-semitism of the pre-WWII period: Jews are seen as 'other', not really fitting in and clanish. While most Europeans would avoid voicing these thoughts often, they simply avoid Jews and have as little to do with them as possible. Curiously, the Scandinavians, who protected their Jews from the Germans for the most part, have some of the strongest negative views.

[BenF]

Jews should get out of Europe before it's too late.

[traditionalist]

But the chief reason, of course, was Europe's dependence on Arab oil.

In other words, European countries don't support Israel because they are conducting a foriegn policy consistent with their national interests. How dare they! Don't they know that all nations are morally obligated to put Israel interest's first?

[traditionalist]

But the chief reason, of course, was Europe's dependence on Arab oil.

In other words, European countries don't support Israel because they are conducting a foriegn policy consistent with their national interests. How dare they!

[DB]

There is a little thing called right and wrong...

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for the post. Great article.

[traditionalist]

So are you asserting that European countries have a moral obligation to support a country that is flagrently violating the Geneva convention and ignoring 3-4 UN resolutions?

[DB]

That's funny...

Ever been to any Arab countries? I suggest you try being a Jew in an Arab prison…

And ya, the UN is a pillar of morality... That's a laugh...

[traditionalist]

Why is it that Israel firsters always like to change the subject and start talking about Arab countries whenever presented with an argument they cannot refute? I don't give a fig about Arab counties any more than I give a fig about Israel.

You made an assertion: Europeans have a moral obligation to support Israel. Therefore the burden of proof is on you. I merely have to provide a counter-example: Israel itself is no paragon of morality or human rights, as demostrated by its violations of the Geneva convention, so it hardly follows that one can have a moral obligation to support it. That Arab countries tend to be less moral (though this doesn't hold true for all of them, such as Jordan) is irrelevent to the question. It just means we shouldn't support Arabs either.

Regarding Israel's violations of UN resolutions, I don't give a fig about them either, but it is inconsistent for a defender of Israel to dismiss them. Why? Because apologists for Israel invariably appeal to a UN resolution, and mandates by the UN's predecessor, the League of Nations, to establish the legitimacy of Zionism and of Israeli statehood. If you're going to use the UN to establish Israel's legitimacy, then you can't ignore Israel's violations of UN resolutions. Also, if you fail to punish Israel for such violations, then you have no basis for punishing other countries, such as Iraq, for violating them.

But then, suppose you do not appeal to the UN and League of Nations to uphold the legitimacy of Israel. The only other thing you can possibly appeal to is the right of conquest, since that is indeed how Israel came into existence. But then you cannot possibly appeal for support of Israel on moral grounds, and hence you cannot fault countries who fail to support it because such support is not in their self-interest.

[DB]

You made an assertion: Europeans have a moral obligation to support Israel.

I made no such assertion. I only said there is such a thing as right and wrong. You created the rest.

As far as the UN goes, I have no use for the UN. None.