EU tensions rise over Jerusalem

Date: 20/11/1997

By Mark Turner

STORM clouds are gathering over the EU's relations with Israel, amid growing concern within the European Commission and national governments about Jerusalem's behaviour.

Fresh from a tour of the Middle East, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos will paint a highly critical picture of the flagging peace process at this week's jobs summit in Luxembourg and call for a "reinforced role" for EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos in pushing the Union-proposed 'code of conduct'. The fact that time is being set aside at the summit to discuss the issue reflects the depth of EU concern over recent developments.

Meanwhile, External Relations Commissioner Manuel Marín has warned colleagues that the entire EU-Mediterranean relationship is being undermined by Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's actions, arguing there should be no further strengthening of links with Israel until the situation improves.

The flurry of recent talks reflects growing frustration amongst European diplomats and politicians that even though the EU is the largest aid donor by far to the region, it has shown little ability to influence events there politically.

The failing peace process overshadowed this year's summit of Euro-Mediterranean foreign ministers, scuppered an industry summit in Morocco and has largely destroyed Union plans for a secure and integrated free trade area on its southern flanks by 2010.

Even after a year of greater political involvement through its special envoy, the Union is still widely seen as a toothless operator. Moratinos has repeatedly warned that the EU must "translate visibility into credibility".

According to the Palestinians and their Arab supporters, the Union could change this by imposing sanctions on any side that violated its code of conduct by resorting to violence or taking unilateral action. "If the code is not accompanied by practical measures, in the end it will not work," said a Palestinian Authority spokesman.

But for the time being, the Union seems to have little stomach for that kind of approach. "The EU prefers to use friendly persuasion, as economic pressures against Israel would provoke a negative reaction," said Poos during his trip to Lebanon.

Furthermore, Europe remains unwilling to be seen challenging the Americans, who still lead international efforts to kick start the peace talks. The Union and the US are considering issuing a joint statement on the Middle East during their December summit.

Nonetheless, EU presidency sources say it is time for a serious Union brainstorming exercise on the peace process in the run-up to the Israel-Palestine 'final status' negotiations next year.

Some EU governments have expressed concerns that although Israel is proving more accommodating on opening the Gaza airport, for example, it has not moved an inch on the most crucial troop redeployment issues. In practice, they say, Jerusalem is making the Union's fledgling association agreement with the Palestinians unworkable.

Israel's standing in European eyes has been weakened further by allegations that non-Israeli orange juice is being illegally channelled through the country, costing the Union 40 million ecu in lost revenues so far. The two sides plan to meet at a technical level next Friday (28 November) to discuss the problem, although Israel has already made it clear that it will not discuss sensitive border issues and has warned of possible retaliatory measures.

Despite these spiralling tensions, Israel's ambassador to the Union Ephraim Halevy is putting a brave face on things. "My feeling is that there is a genuine wish to approach this in a professional manner," he told European Voice this week. "Overall, EU-Israeli relations have always been marked by a certain difference of opinion, but we still continue to talk."

Feature on tensions in EU-Israel relations concerning the Middle East peace process, EU-Mediterranean relations and other issues.