Israel Is Going About This EU Thing All Wrong--And Should Take Lessons From Syria

Israel wants to upgrade its relations with the EU, but is running into problems:

The Palestinian prime ministed has told EU diplomats that the EU should not upgrade ties with Israel as long as it expands West Bank settlements.

...Malki says EU officials are expected to hold meetings in Brussel about the upgrade this month. Last month, Britain urged Europe to impose tighter controls on imports from settlements.

If Israel is really earnest about getting along with the EU, it can't do better than follow the example of Syria, who apparently knows the way to the EU's heart. As Emanuele Ottolenghi notes:

according to the EU ambassador to Israel, Ramiro Cibrian-Uzal, quoted in the Jerusalem Post earlier today, “the EU felt a need to respond to a number of positive Syrian moves, including its decision to establish formal diplomatic ties with Lebanon, participation in a Mediterranean summit in Paris last July and the indirect talks with Israel in Turkey.”

One is hard-pressed to see any such a positive move in Syria’s behavior. Consider the following:

• Syria continues to harbor terrorist organizations such as Hamas in Damascus
  
• Syria gives sanctuary to Jihadis who operate in Iraq and allows Jihadis to transit through Syria en route to Iraq
  
• Syria has been caught red handed building a nuclear power plant in secret - apparently with the help of North Korea
  
• Syria continues to meddle in Lebanon’s internal affairs
  
• Syria’s role in the assassination of slain Lebanese Prime minister, Rafik Hariri is still not settled - to put it nicely
  
• Syria has tightened the screws on its internal dissidents and opposition, making a mockery of human rights’ commitments that are part and parcel of the Partnership agreement
  

And all that Israel can come up with is settlements in the West Bank?

Clearly, they are doing something wrong...

Technorati Tag: Israel and Syria and EU.