By Ted Belman
This was the title of the opening panel today at the Herzlia Conference. The Moderator pointed out that Israel had excellent relations with Europe in the fifties and sixties. Britain, France and Israel invaded the Sinai in ’56. France was the chief supplier of planes and weapons right up to the ’67 War. He said things cooled after ’67. In ’73 all European countries refused America landing rights on their way to resupply Israel, with the exception of Portugal. Thus the relationship was already rocky.
Silvan Shalom, Vice-PM started off. He is an articulate and passionate advocate. He reversed the question and asked is Europe loosing Israel. He accused Europe of favouring the Palestinians and said, if you want more influence, you have to be more balanceD.
He went on to say that the US is failing to support moderate regimes. She demanded Israel permit Hamas to compete in the elections and now Hamas controls Gaza. She negotiated Res 1701 requiring an arms embargo on Hezbollah then permitted Hezbollah to amass 60,000 missiles. Then she allowed them to take over the government. He said democracy is nice but extremists shouldn’t be allowed to take over the government. He is obviously worried about Egypt. He ended by saying that the sanctions had been very effective and called for even more extreme sanctions.
The first European speaker was Uri Rosenthal, Min of FA, The Netherlands. He said Israel is not losing Europe now or in the future.
First the good news. We love you. We hate Israel bashing and antisemitism. We want to keep progess in the peace process separate from our embrace of Israel in all our other areas of accommodation. With that out of the way,he got down to brass tacks. “Israel must be more forthcoming” in the peace process. “Settlements are illegal”. “They are impediments to peace”. Israel should accept ’67 borders and divide Jerusalem. He obvioualy ignored Shovals demand for more balance.
The Michael Dugher, UK Shadow Defence Minister, also made nice but still demanded progress in the peace process. Though he left it at that it would have been nice if someone came down hard on the Palestinians. Not one word. He also reminded us that public opinion is turning against us. But he did mention that its opinion is largely based on the broadcast media which is not fair to Israel and not balanced. So what is the government doing to correct that situation? Nothing. He ended by saying that the government is fighting all forms of extremism including the EDL.
Keep in mind that European Parliament endorsed Goldstone Gaza report and some European states endorsed the UN Report on the Mavi Marmara. WHAT MORE IS THERE TO SAY.
The UK are “fighting” the patriotic, brave EDL.
Uri Rosenthal of the Netherlands made it crystal clear, Europe wants Israel to commit suicide and surrender to global jihad. Because of their evil treatment of Israel, it appears that Europe and the UK are being punished by G-D. There are many no-go Muslim areas in Europe where it is too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter. And with the massive Muslim immigration invasion, a huge percent of Muslim immigrants want cruel Islamic sharia law implemented in their host countries.
Back to the original question:
Israel began to “lose” Europe in 1967, when the Arabs bought off DeGaulle. It’s been downhill since then.
Israel may not be perfect at PR, but I get so tired of hearing people carp about “Israeli PR”.
Is it Israel’s fault that so many Europeans are cowardly assholes? How is “good PR” going to fix that?
First, we have to give credit where credit is due: The Arabs/Moslems have run a masterful campaign at intimidating at turns, bribing at turns, and playing to the worst instincts of European publics, in order to turn most of Europe against Israel in terms of popular perceptions.
What can Israel do against this petrodollar/lynch mob tidal wave? We are only talking about a country of seven million, the population of the greater Chicago metro area. Are they all supposed to go be Israeli ambassadors of good will? Most of these people have jobs and families to support, and more tangible enemies to defend against day-to-day.
I’d like to see Israeli leaders more assertive on the recognition issue…but Bibi has in fact done this. You’d never know it, though, the way the media ignores/distorts him.
What can Israel do about a corrupt media?
Some tentative suggestions:
Try to bypass their influence through non-traditional venues, such as the Internet. There ought to be a unit of Israelis somewhere in Tel Aviv, in a building somewhere, sitting at banks of maybe a hundred computers, searching out sites dealing with Israel or discussions on Israel, defending Israel against all the Internet cretins who attack Israel.
You can bet the other side has people full time who do this sort of thing against Israel. Time to fight back.
There is also tourism. I hear Israel had a record tourist year this past year. That is great. I’m sure that helps.
Support and encourage friends: Like Geert Wilders, the EDL, etc.
Ostracize treasonous Jews from within and without: our very worst enemies, worse than the Europeans or even the Arabs (e.g., I’d like to see the editorial staff of Haaretz tarred, feathered, and deported to anyplace else that will have them. Really. Make an example of them).
But we really all should remember that we in the Diaspora are in this, too. WE need to deal with the corrupt media in our own societies. WE need to make ourselves heard to our respective political classes. WE need to stand up to Israel bashers on our soil. There can’t be some “local Israeli” made available to defend them in New York or Chicago or LA or Paris or London. It is largely up to US, not Israel. They can help us do this in some ways, but they have their hands full with plenty of local enemies and concerns.
Israel didn’t lose Europe. To the extent that any Jews are really responsible, I’d say European Jews “lost” Europe with respect to Israel, by not speaking up and speaking out early or often enough when they still had a chance to influence such matters. Now, it may be too late.
The same thing is starting to happen here in the U.S. That was what Obama was all about, per his puppetmasters. Not a coincidence, not at all, that hate crimes against Jews in the U.S. spiked to postwar highs in the first full year of his administration.
When will people here wake up? What will it take?
The other day Abe wrote:
Abe followed the above with this incisive comment:
I would suggest that Abe simply be ignored as he is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. Abe clearly doesn’t “get it” and his mindset is such that ultimately leads to dead Jews. It is an exercise in futility to try and persuade people such as this guy that the Jews are yet in another fight for survival.
Abe:
You seen the pictures of the beach resorts ans malls in Gaza? Looks a lot better there than Detroit nowadays.
FACT: Per capita, the Palestinians are the largest recipients of foreign aid IN THE WORLD. Sure beats working!
But many of them are poor anyway, ‘cuz their ultra-corrupt leaders line their pockets with everybody’s “good will”. I seem to recall Arafat paid $11 million to put up his wife, Suha, in Paris.
SURE BEATS WORKING!
The biggest mistake you make, Abe, is to look at the Palestinians as an isolated entity. They are the “tip of the spear”, backed by the whole Arab/Moslem world of SW Asia/NE Africa. They are the cannon fodder, but their backers have gold pots to piss oil in.
Oh, and now, the Palis have the unqualified, unreserved backing of the Moslem-butt-kisser-in-chief, Neville Carter Hussein Obama. He has backed them on EVERY issue of contention, except ROR, and even there he is noncommittal (he’s saving that one for when Israel caves on everything else, as the final humiliation to put his Arab puppetmasters in orgasmic ecstasy).
Poor, poor, lonely dispossessed Palestinians, with governments representing almost the entire first world – with minor exceptions like Canada – refusing to hold them accountable for ANYTHING, not even something as sandbox fundamental as recognition of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish peopole, while putting the ENTIRE onus for “peace” on Israel…so that her largest population and industrial centers can be within mortar range.
Abe, you ever hear of a little phenomenon called the “Stockholm Syndrome”. Look it up. THEN LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
Abe Lowenstein says: The Palestinians don’t have a pot to piss in. In all the years prior to
1948 when did they ever? When has an arab leader given anything to their own countrymen?
The arab countries surrounding Israel won’t even let palestinians become citizens…..or
give them a pot to piss in.
But in your mind, Israel is the bad guy?
Thanks Shy guy:
Yuk, Yuk.
What are we in a popularity contest? That said, according to recent polls over 60% of Americans seem to like us, at least more than those stinking Arabs.
You’re right we should stop with the persecutions and should persuade them to move a few miles away over to Palestine known to you as Jordan. Those who refuse and resist we just kill. Either way the persecutions will end.
Normal people who value their own lives and and those of their family over those who would kill them given the opportunity.
Based on donations given to the Palis who don’t work; Their per-capita incomes should be over 50k per man woman and child, that their elected leaders steal most of it is not our problem.
It’s up to Israel to make Peace.
Who says? Anyway we don’t want no stinking PEACE, We WANT ALL THE LAND W/OUT THE VERMIN. You love em take them.
But we want to lose Europe.
Die already! That’ll teach ya.
He cannot claim to love and embrace Israel and then demand she surrender part of her capital city, Judaism’s holiest city.
The problem remains where it has been from the beginning. Israel’s leaders know one one posture and that is to grovel. That only invites more abuse. The world fears Arab might and Arab anger but not Israeli anger or Israeli might. Perhaps it is time for Israel to warn that they are sharpening their Samson Option so that in any future war Israel will go all out with NO concern for the consequences to any other nation. Israel has the power to wreck the Middle East and wreck the oil wells. All they need is the provocation to do so.
Israel is fighting a losing battle in the court of public opinion. Enough with persecuting the Palestinians. What kind of sick minds take pleasure in bringing suffering to others? Balance, my tuchas! The Palestinians don’t have a pot to piss in. It’s up to Israel to make Peace.
Was Bat Ye’or on the panel? The rest is window dressing.
Europe is on the cusp of disintegrating as EU. For what it’s worth our focus with Europe should be downgraded and we should strengthen our bilateral relations where possible in all areas especially military and intelligence with individual European countries especially those in Eastern Europe.
A bank-robber when asked why he robbed banks, replied: “That’s where the money was” Today the East is where most of the real money is and that’s where Israel should be as well. That’s not to say Europe should be ignored but their influence and input should be put is it’s realistic proper perspective by Israel. The near future will not resemble the present.