Europe Heard From

[BeBMan]

Re: Re: Re: Europe Heard From

Originally posted by Eli
The documents seized in the Mukataa in Rammalah show that Yasser Arafat and the PA were directly sponsoring Fatah groups, knowing that the launched and will launch suicide bombers to the Israeli cities.
The EU provides plenty of money to the PA.

And exactly that money from the EU was used by Arafat to support the Fatah?

[Sprayber]

Wasn't there a big mess a year or so ago about the EU finding out that their money was being used to print up Anti-jewish textbooks in the West Bank and Gaza?

[BeBMan]

Well, I don´t know, but this would be indeed a mess.

My point is, the article gives the reader the impression that the EU does intentionally support Palestinian terror against Israel, and this is not the case.

[BeBMan]

BTW, if I remember correctly the EU is also the first trading partner and major economic, scientific and research partner of Israel, so let´s hope the Arabs don´t accuse Europe of sponsoring Israel´s military by that

[MichaeltheGreat]

Re: Re: Europe Heard From

Originally posted by BeBro


BTW, the article has some interesting points, but this "Kristallnacht" thing is nonsense, also the EU support for the terrorist network.

"EU" support is semantically incorrect, but France and Italy in the 1970's and 1980's at least (I'm not current on the info as to how long the practice went on) had a policy of deliberately looking the other way at Abu Nidal, Abu Abbas, Hamas, al Fatah, and Hisbollah operatives moving through their countries and operating safe houses, etc.

There was some degree of understanding that safe transit and a "hands off" (despite InterPol alerts, positive ID, etc.) approach would be "compensated" with a quid pro quo not to pursue targets or commit hard crimes (operations, not conspiracy) within those nations.

The leftist Greek governments of the time were also up to their neck in it -

[Sprayber]

After some search the only source I could come up with that isn't too biased either way is one CNN article

http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/09/28/palestinian.schoolbooks.ap/

It only mentions that the textbooks went from very anti-jewish statments since they were old Jordanian and Egypian books to not mentioning Israel at all in the newer ones.

I could have sworn that I heard a report on tv that the EU had sent people to investigate and that changes were recommended.


Bebro: I don't think that Europe necessary supports the terror organizations directly. I do think that the EU chooses to overlook the Pal attacks on Israel and concentrates on the Israelie responses. This is what infuriates most people. It's like we are watching two different dramas being played out here. I'm not talking about you personaly but Europe in general. I for one think both sides are neck deep in guilt and blame, but since others choose to ingnore pal terrorism I end up looking like an Israelie supporter. And in a sense I have become one because I no longer believe that most of the Pal want peace.

[Dauphin]

May seem a silly question, but what does Europe gain if it does conciously or unconsciously support the Palestinians? If there is no benefit why would they support them?

If you look at the IRA sponsorship in America, mainly in Boston, there was no tangible benefit for the sponsors, but they did it because they claimed they were all Irish and so were helping their own. What would Europe's motivation be in helping the Palestinians?

Incidentally I heard some bloke on C-SPAN a couple of days ago claiming it was because Europe sees Israel as an extension of America, and Europeans are 'pro' any group that is anti-US - hence pro Palestinian.

[Sirotnikov]

Ah, good old europe.

As a russian comentator said, "Europe is ready to bravely and heroically face with the extinction of Israel and Israelis."

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Sprayber
Bebro: I don't think that Europe necessary supports the terror organizations directly. I do think that the EU chooses to overlook the Pal attacks on Israel and concentrates on the Israelie responses. This is what infuriates most people. It's like we are watching two different dramas being played out here. I'm not talking about you personaly but Europe in general. I for one think both sides are neck deep in guilt and blame, but since others choose to ingnore pal terrorism I end up looking like an Israelie supporter. And in a sense I have become one because I no longer believe that most of the Pal want peace.

To be honest, also my respect for the Palestinians is gone to the biggest part after the wave of terracts, esp. during the last time, so I can understand Israels reaction absolutely. However, I don´t believe only military actions alone will end the terror...

[Gibsie]

Town Hall? Man, they get even less respect than Newsmax

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Gibsie
Town Hall? Man, they get even less respect than Newsmax

So sue me. That was the first place I saw the article posted on the net.

It isn't like he works for them or anything.

[Sirotnikov]

However, I don´t believe only military actions alone will end the terror...

No one claims it will end the terror or solve it.

Sharon himself said that this won't solve anything and there has to be, and will be a peace process in the end of it. The media chose to ignore it though.

This action, again, is not meant at "curing" terror.

It is meant to:

1) Uproot current terror foundations.
Sure, new terror will evolve, but there's no reason to leave it with a dowry of thousands of ready bombs and expert engineers and planners.

2) Prove Israel means bussiness.
Ever since Israel withdrew from Lebanon, the Arab world has viewed it as Israel's weakness, and thought that it could be exploited and Israelis will fold under terror.
This action will show Israel is not dead yet, and can and will do many many bad things to those who harm it.

3) Show there can be no gain from terror.
Terracts do not aid the peace process in any way. Arafat thinks they help "soften" the Israelis. We're there to prove him wrong, and that there will no gain from terror.


This action is supported by a large scale of people - as a temporary mid term problem solver.

We absolutely can't ignore the terracts any longer.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Sharon himself said that this won't solve anything and there has to be, and will be a peace process in the end of it.

Yes, like the Treaty of Versailles

[DinoDoc]

Europe is heard from, yet again

EU Parliament votes for sanctions against Israel
By Herb Keinon


JERUSALEM (April 11) - The European Parliament's declarative resolution yesterday to slap trade sanctions on Israel is a direct response to Israel's refusal to let EU heads meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, European and Israeli diplomatic officials said yesterday.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a 14-point resolution calling for a suspension of the Israel-EU association agreement, effectively calling for economic sanctions against Israel.

The EU-Israel Association agreement is the legal framework governing Israel's relations with the EU, and includes an economic section that grants Israel preferential trade status with the EU.

Ambassador Gincarlo Chevallard, the European Commission's representative in Israel, said there is a direct link between this resolution and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's refusal last week to let EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique meet with Arafat, although a day latter US envoy Anthony Zinni was allowed to do so.

Chevallard said the calls to suspend the agreement reflect "the anger of a large part of European opinion, and the political class, to this treatment of the EU, and what is seen as cheap humiliation."

"The political class did not accept that we were not allowed to see Arafat, but the Americans were," he said.

On a practical level, the resolution will have little impact. It is the European Council, and not the parliament, that makes and breaks agreements. In order for the agreement to be suspended, the European Commission would have to make a concrete proposal, which would then need to be agreed upon by the foreign ministers of all 15 EU states.

Both Chevallard and Foreign Ministry officials believe this is highly unlikely. One ministry official said Germany, Britain, Holland, and Denmark would likely not approve the proposal.

At the same time, the resolution will provide momentum to the growing number of those in Europe calling for economic sanctions to protest the current military operation.

Chevallard said the commission does not have any intention of making a proposal at this time to suspend the association agreement. "It would not serve any purpose," he said. "We need to maintain dialogue with Israel, not antagonize it."

In addition to the clause dealing with the association agreement, the resolution - which passed by a vote of 269-208, also calls for an arms embargo against "Israel and Palestine."

The resolution - which condemns suicide bombings - also condemns the "military escalation pursued by the Sharon government," and the "oppression of the Palestinian civilian population by the Israeli army."

Victor Harel, head of the Foreign Ministry's Western Europe department, said the resolution is "mistaken" and "one-sided," and will only serve to distance Europe further from an active role in the diplomatic process.

"We are disappointed by this and regret it," Harel said. "It sends a very negative message." At the same time, Harel said since the resolution did not pass by a sweeping margin, it indicates Europe is divided when it comes to the Middle East.

The ministry's Jackie Eldan, whose portfolio is European institutions, said the parliament is viewed by EU leaders as a bellwether of public opinion, and this vote sends a message that, despite the widespread public perception, European opinion is divided on how to view the current crisis.

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/11/News/News.46716.html

[Imran Siddiqui]

Good job EU Parliament!