In the eyes of many Arabs, Europe — although regularly making noises sympathetic to the Palestinians — has never seemed to take proper action on their behalf. So their criticisms of Israel viewed as no more than a diplomatic smoke screen to keep their Arab trading partners sweet. And, after all, was not Europe ultimately to blame for Israel’s existence?
The last century saw the British and the French divide the Middle East, give the green light to the idea of the Jewish state, and ever since 1945, they and the rest of Europe have given in to such collective guilt at what the Nazis did to the Jews as to entirely suspend any moral judgment as to what the Israelis have done to the Palestinians.
Such has been the general Arab view of Europe. That attitude may have been correct in the past but it is wrong today. For example, the Europeans provide the lion’s share of all aid to the Palestinian Authority. And for the first time Europe has announced economic sanctions against Israel because of its settlements policy. For years, the Europeans have limited their opposition to the settlements to mere words. At last, by imposing taxes and fines on goods produced in Israeli settlements, they are doing something that will have economic and, even more so, political effect.
It is the latter that the Europeans have in mind. They want to pressure the Israelis to end the settlements, and be seen to be doing so. They have in fact been stopping imports of settlement produce since April last year, demanding clarification of origin meanwhile levying a deposit equivalent to the full customs dues. 2000 cargoes have been impounded.
Triggered by the Mitchell Report, published earlier this month condemning the settlements policy, they have now decided to go public and make an issue about it. The announcement of sanctions on Wednesday was made with as much pomp and circumstance as the EU can muster: at the European Parliament by Anna Lindh, foreign minister of Sweden which currently holds the European presidency, and justified by Chris Patten, the External Affairs Commissioner. “All Israeli activities in Gaze, on the West Bank, in East Jerusalem and on the Golan Heights are illegal,” he said, “including natural produce from the settlements”.
These are uncompromising words. They leave no margin of doubt about Europe’s opposition to the settlements. They have been a long time in coming — once again, the EU has kept its light under a bushel — but they are most welcome, not merely in their sentiments, but in the practical effects they will have. It may not amount to a great deal in economic terms: less than one percent of EU-Israeli trade will be affected, worth about $200 million, compared to $24 billion in total. But the political effects will be major. For the first time, the Europe has told the Israelis that not only are their actions unacceptable, but that they are going to be punished. The penalty is not exactly a major blow but the Israelis know that Europe is prepared to take action against them and that in future it could be a lot harsher. No wonder they are seething — accusing the EU of interference in their internal affairs and claiming that the settlements are a matter for negotiation between them and the Palestinians, and no one else. That, of course, is abject nonsense.
