Advertise On EU-Digest

Annual Advertising Rates

1/14/07

RealClearPolitics - Why Europe Abandoned Israel - by Richard Baehr

For the complete report from RealClearPolitics click on this link

Why Europe Abandoned Israel - by Richard Baehr

Why is Israel viewed so differently in Europe than in the United States? To argue as the title of this article does, that Europe has abandoned Israel, is to suggest that it was once in its corner. And in fact, this is true.

Prior to the Six Day War in 1967, it was France which was Israel's primary military supplier, not the United States. In the War of Independence in 1948-49, it was arms smuggled from Czechoslovakia that enabled the Zionists to fight on. Most European nations, including some Soviet satellites, supported the partition resolution in the General Assembly in November 1947. European nations supported Israel at the UN through the late 1960s and in some cases well beyond then.

Today 40 years later, that residue of sympathy for the plucky underdog nation of Israel has disappeared.

Europe will react better to an Israel run by someone from the left, and an Israel that shrinks. The withdrawal from Lebanon was applauded, as was the disengagement from Gaza. A Barak or a Peres, or an Olmert, in fact most anyone other than a Sharon or a Netanyahu, makes Europe happier.

No comments: