Netanyahu: Road map policy unchanged [Israel may join European Union]

Jerusalem Post ^ | November 10, 2002 | HERB KEINON

[HAL9000]

Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told foreign leaders over the weekend Israel will not change its position on the US-sponsored diplomatic road map in the short time prior to the elections.

Netanyahu's comments follow statements he made soon after taking office that the road map is off the agenda until after the US campaign against Iraq - a position at odds with the government's stated position.

The road map issue has turned into a political football between Netanyahu and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, with some observers saying Netanyahu wants to close ranks with Sharon on this issue to keep the prime minister from portraying the new foreign minister as someone whose positions will hurt US-Israeli relations.

Last week, Sharon hinted a total rejection of the road map would hurt Israel's chances to secure US economic aid packages.

Netanyahu spoke over the weekend with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who congratulated him on his new position.

According to Netanyahu's office, the foreign minister said his positions are well known, but he has no intention of changing the government's policies in the short time remaining before the elections.

The Quartet - the US, EU, UN, and Russia - is scheduled to hold a meeting on the road map sometime in mid-December. By that time the Likud primary will most likely have been held, and Israel will have submitted its position to the US.

According to this road map, after genuine security and administrative reform in the Palestinian Authority, including Palestinian elections, a Palestinian state with provisional borders is to be established by the end of next year. Israel and this provisional state would then negotiate a final status deal, scheduled to be completed by 2005.

The Prime Minister's Office, together with the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry, are drawing up Israel's position on the paper, and Sharon is slated to convene a meeting on the matter on Monday.

Sharon and former foreign minister Shimon Peres expressed reservations to the plan, but never rejected it outright. The widespread feeling among Israeli and US diplomatic officials is the plan has little chance of gaining traction until after the expected US campaign in Iraq.

Israel submitted preliminary reservations to the road map to US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns when he was here last month, and is expected to submit its written response to the plan by December. The Palestinians are also expected to submit their response by then.

According to one diplomatic official, however, Israel's response will probably not be submitted until after the Likud primary. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield is slated to arrive this week, and this issue is expected to be on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, in his conversation with Berlusconi, asked him to look into the possibility of Israel joining the European Union. This idea has been put on the table by some members of the European Parliament, and has gained a degree of support in Italy.

[ChadGore]

Bibi rocks.

[Clara Lou]

For Israel, it seems to me, being part of the EU is being in league with Jew-haters. However, it couldn't hurt the U.S. to have them in there, could it?

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, in his conversation with Berlusconi, asked him to look into the possibility of Israel joining the European Union. This idea has been put on the table by some members of the European Parliament, and has gained a degree of support in Italy.

Need any be reminded that the last time "Italy" joined with "Israel", Jews didn't regain control for nearly 1900 years.

[Phillip Augustus]

What does it have to do with the US either way?

[Clara Lou]

What does it have to do with the US either way?
I was thinking that we could use another friendly face in the EU. Seem reasonable?

[Phillip Augustus]

It's never about what Israel can do for us; it's always about what we can do for Israel. I consider most EU as we speak today more valuable allies than I do Israel.

[wgeorge2001]

Shades of biblical christian prohecy! The EU is thought by many believers to be the area of "old Rome" and the 10 horns of power may be the western european nations that some believe the anti-christ will come out of; and he will sign a seven year peace agreement with Israel at some future point. So interesting. If you're interested in such things as I am.

[Timesink]

Yeah, this'll happen right after they admit us.

[rmlew]

Israel has backed away from taking Cairo and Damascus in 1967, from destroying the Egyptian army in 1956 1967 and 1973 at US behest, guaranteeing future wars.
Israel allowed Arafat to escape Lebanon in 1983. Israel did not respond to Iraqi Scud attacks in the Gulf War and pulled out of Lebanon, both showing weakness and inviting terrorism. All this, Israel did for the US, even as the US arms Israel's enemies.

that said, the negotiations with the EU and China are pointless. Neither will support Israel.

[Phillip Augustus]

A lot of what you describe may have benefited Israel in the long run, as the terrorism probably would increased exponentially had Israel responded without our advice. Be that as it may, do you think that Israel acted out of altruism in each situation that you named? Of course not; no state does. Israel realized that in these instances it enefited their national intersts to act as we requested,on a cost-benefit analysis, just as our politicians do when dealing with Israel, the cost being the wrath of the lobby if our politicians alienate the lobby.

[solmar_israel]

and Israel was wrong in every one of those incidents. Had Israel destroyed the Egyptian army and destroyed its enemies once and for all, the oil and gas from Sinai would more then have made up for lost U.S. aid.

The arms would have still flowed from the U.S. and those that wouldn't, would be replaced with Israel made-weapons.

[lavaroise]

I agree, if anything, for honor, Israel should be instated inside the US. We built NATO to keep Germans down, not to have them patrol Jewish quarters again in Jerusalem. My, people forget quickly. Netanyahu is a demagogue and gave up terrritories to terrorists. This guy is a bit of a coocoo... much better than Peres or Barak, mind you, though

[rmlew]

Well duh.
However this reciprical attitude undermines your origional claim. Welcome to the realities of foreign affairs.