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EU poll sees Israel as peace threat
Chris McGreal
Monday November 3, 2003
The Guardian
A European commission opinion poll that claims 60% of Europeans see Israel as the greatest threat to world peace has drawn outraged denunciations of anti-semitism.
The poll surveyed 7,500 people in 15 EU countries who said Israel was a bigger threat to world peace than Iran, North Korea and the US.
The public in the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg were the most fearful. France, which Israel views with the greatest suspicion of any EU state, did not rank the Jewish state as the greatest danger.
Israel's diaspora affairs minister, the former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, said the poll was further evidence of why Europe is not to be trusted to play a role in the peace process.
"The fact that the majority of Europeans sees Israel as the main danger ... is additional proof that behind the 'political' criticism of Israel stands pure anti-semitism.
"The EU, which shows sensitivity on human rights issues, would do well to stop the rampant brainwashing against and demonising of Israel before Europe deteriorates again to dark sections of its past."
But a former head of Israel's foreign ministry, Alon Liel, said Israelis would be wise to consider why Europeans might think that way. "Do they hate us or are they truly frightened? Our natural predilection is to pull out of the drawer our usual weapon of self-defence - the weapon of anti-semitism - but this is probably the wrong place to do so."
Chris McGreal
Monday November 3, 2003
The Guardian
A European commission opinion poll that claims 60% of Europeans see Israel as the greatest threat to world peace has drawn outraged denunciations of anti-semitism.
The poll surveyed 7,500 people in 15 EU countries who said Israel was a bigger threat to world peace than Iran, North Korea and the US.
The public in the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg were the most fearful. France, which Israel views with the greatest suspicion of any EU state, did not rank the Jewish state as the greatest danger.
Israel's diaspora affairs minister, the former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, said the poll was further evidence of why Europe is not to be trusted to play a role in the peace process.
"The fact that the majority of Europeans sees Israel as the main danger ... is additional proof that behind the 'political' criticism of Israel stands pure anti-semitism.
"The EU, which shows sensitivity on human rights issues, would do well to stop the rampant brainwashing against and demonising of Israel before Europe deteriorates again to dark sections of its past."
But a former head of Israel's foreign ministry, Alon Liel, said Israelis would be wise to consider why Europeans might think that way. "Do they hate us or are they truly frightened? Our natural predilection is to pull out of the drawer our usual weapon of self-defence - the weapon of anti-semitism - but this is probably the wrong place to do so."
Maybe it's just because the US would have had just as many excuses to invade Israel as it did Iraq for all the UN resolutions it daily breaks and has done so for the last several decades...
Or the fact that it is acting as a catalyst and excuse for muslim fundamentalism and terrorism which could result in major loss of life somewhere in Europe in the near future...
Actually there are a bunch of reasons why we might think that Israel's actions are greatly destabilising the world - and yes, in the global arena it is contributing to this arena in a far greater way than NK. Though I am sure a South Korean or Japanese might disagree with me...
So stop with this anachronistic holocaust excuse of 'anti-semitism' and as Alon Liel says think about why we think like this and do something constructive about it!
....no seriously i understand why people are hating them but i think it is stupid and well i dont UNDERSTAND IT....
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