EU foreign ministers likely to call for division of Jerusalem

[IndianaGreen]

How nice! Nothing like a communique to make everyone feel better about themselves, while nothing changes!

EU foreign ministers likely to call for division of Jerusalem

European Union foreign ministers are expected to officially call next week for the division of Jerusalem, to serve as the capitals of both Israel and Palestine. A draft document authored by the current holder of the rotating EU presidency, Sweden, and implying that the EU would recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood, has been obtained by Haaretz.

Jerusalem is waging a diplomatic campaign to keep the EU from issuing such an endorsement, but diplomats close to the EU deliberations believe it is virtually inevitable.

EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on December 7 for a two-day meeting in Brussels on the peace process, after which a statement outlining the body's Mideast policy is expected.

The Swedish draft represents the first official EU articulation of a solution for one of the core issues of the final-status arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians.

The document expressed the EU's concern over the stalemate in the peace process and calls for the immediate renewal of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in accordance with a prescribed timetable. The goal, it states, is "an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The draft refers directly to the situation in East Jerusalem, calling on "all parties to refrain from provocative actions" and stating the EU Council "has never recognized the annexation of East Jerusalem. If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as capital of two states. The Council calls for the reopening of Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem in accordance with the road map. It also calls on the Israeli government to cease all discriminatory treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131926.html

The Road Map has been in rigor mortis for years now.

[Kurska]

1. Of course the "unique" status Israel has in the world shines through.

Never before has Europe tried to declare a sovereign nation's capital divided during a time of peace. Israel isn't going to stand for this.

[shaayecanaan]

2. They never partitioned a territory against the wishes of the majority of its population, either

until they did. So I guess unique cuts both ways.

And Israel isn't going to stand for it? Stiff shit. The Europeans are a lot more important to the Israelis than the other way around. TBH, I'm not sure what you think the Israelis can do about it.

[Jim Sagle]

3. Watch and see, Ace.

[shaayecanaan]

9. You've just watched "inglorious basterds", eh little man?

maybe Israel could reprise the Six Day War over Europe, and once they laid waste to the airfields of France England and Germany they could parachute into Berlin and dance the hora from the top of the Reichstag.

I guess I'll just have to watch and see, eh? Again, why you would have any idea escapes me, though. I'd hate to think you were just talking out of your arse.

[Jim Sagle]

10. And where do you get your info from, genius?

You're no internet judge of character, fer shure. I wouldn't watch a QT flick if I were paid to.

AS for YURP, they caused this mess so they can STFU about it.

[Kurska]

4. The United kingdom was the sovereign controller of the mandate at the time of partition.

And the United Kingdom washed their hands of it and let the UN do what it will. I seriously doubt Israel is about to wash its hand of any of the territory under its control.

I'm not sure what you're purposing the EU would do about it. I think Indiana green is right in that the EU will say Jerusalem should be divided and then the argument will die off. What do you expect the EU to do, send division? Do you honestly believe any force backed proposal to divide Jerusalem would make it out of the security council? It is all political positioning, all bark no bite.

[shaayecanaan]

7. My guess is...

the Europeans will recognise a Republic of Palestine. They will then appoint ambassadors, accept Palestinian passports, open consulates in East Jerusalem and the rest of it.

I'm not sure what you're purposing the EU would do about it.

Israel is sandwiched between Arabia on one side and Europe on the other (particularly when you consider that Turkey is likely to join the EU). They can't even use Arab airspace. Even a modest application of sanctions from the Europeans would have a massive effect on Israel, and they know it.

As time goes on, the likelihood of those sanctions being applied steadily increases.

[Kurska]

13. Europe isn't going to sanction Israel.

You're living in absolute fantasy world if you think that is going to happen. Turkey also isn't joining the EU any time soon unless a huge shift in the European parliament, because right now the center right has far solid control and not even the center left is open to Turkey joining.

[shaayecanaan]

14. Why not?

Admittedly, Israel runs a fairly high trade deficit with Europe, and certain countries such as Cyprus would be opposed on economic grounds, but the major countries within the EU would hardly care.

Even withdrawing most favoured nation status would be a significant blow for Israel, and would be quite straightforward for Europe to do, after all, Israel is a small nation of relatively minor importance.

Another modest sanction would be to withdraw visa-free travel for Israeli passport holders (who are not particularly significant contributors to tourism etc) and require them to apply for a paper visa as most North African countries are required to do.

I think what you're failing to appreciate is that the longer Israel occupies Palestine the more its going to create an incentive for the international community to act.

[Kurska]

15. What do they have to gain?

You've always struck me as a astute observer of world affairs. Do you really think Europe has much at all to gain by sanctioning Israel they couldn't more easily get by just paying lipservice to the Palestinian cause like even arab countries tend to do?

Not to mention the blowback Washington aims at Brussels if they try to do that would be intense.

[shaayecanaan]

16. Now you're starting to sound like an anti-semite...

who believes that somehow elders of Zion will be able to flip their magic switches and outwit the Europeans no matter what they do. The fact is Israel is a bit player. If the Europeans figure its worth their while to apply pressure on Israel they will.

There is not much Washington can do in terms of "blowback". It could withdraw its military bases in Europe, but I doubt the Europeans would care all that much, besides, the Americans rely on their European bases, particularly in Germany, as long as Iraq/Afghanistan remain on foot.

Any trade sanctions against Europe would hurt the US as much as it would hurt Europe. Besides, the Arab states operate a boycott against Israel without encountering much opposition from the US, there's no reason why Europe couldnt do the same.

In monetary terms, if anything America is a significant debtor nation when it comes to Europe (particularly Germany). If anything, its Europe that has the US by the short and curlies, and not the other way around.

Additionally, the US has often looked to Europe to do things that would be too politically expensive to do in America because of the Israel lobby. For instance, the US made several arms sales to Saudi Arabia by selling it to the Brits first, who then sold them onto the Saudis. Several US presidents have wanted to apply pressure on Israel (George Bush Snr, Reagan and probably Obama) but have been thwarted by Congress. If Europe was able to supply pressure instead, my guess is it would probably be welcomed at the executive level of American government, even if only privately.

[oberliner]

6. Actually the Europeans did that all the time

Isn't that what colonialism was all about?

[shaayecanaan]

8. No, not really...

there was the partition of India and Pakistan (in which Britain obtained the agreement of both the Hindu and Muslim representatives), and the Greco-Turkish population exchange. There is also Kosovo, although in that case there was a democratic mandate from the inhabitants to accept partition.

[oberliner]

11. Wow, you really ought to educate yourself

Have you ever read about colonialism in Africa?

This article may be a good starting point for you:

Mapping Africa: Problems of Regional Definition and Colonial/National Boundaries

European cartography is a complement of other technologies of political power: literate bureaucratic agencies (these existed in the Sokoto Caliphate and other African Islamic states, but in limited form), the need for regular tax collection and even, at times, conscription of populations for military or public works service. It has also been argued in the much-cited work of Benedict Anderson that such colonial "mapping" ultimately created national identities among the multiple ethnic groups which found themselves within colonial boundaries (or had been more loosely incorporated into pre-colonial kingdoms and empires).

Tropical Africa is a good test for this proposition, since colonial rule lasted here for less than a century, national states have been somewhat insecure entities since independence, yet the colonial maps have survived as the delineators of boundaries between these states. All this happened despite the arbitrary nature of much colonial map-making, which has been noted by many African critics. Conferences and diplomatic maneuverings in distant European capitals often drew lines to deal with tensions among the colonizing powers rather than addressing internal African issues. What has been less noticed are the frequent boundary changes made after the original partition to suit further intra-European concerns--most notable, but by no means the only one, being the outcome of World War I (Austen).

http://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/1/777777122619/

[shaayecanaan]

12. Maybe I ought to educate you...

the lines on maps that were carved out by the colonial powers were not partitions between various ethnicities as was the case of India, Kosovo and Palestine.

For that reason, many of the said borders are largely irrelevant to the people that traverse them - Bedouin largely ignore the boundary between Yemen and Saudi Arabia for instance and the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is well reported.

On the other hand, Israel shot dead approximately 400 returning refugees each year during the first 10 years of Israel's existence.

[imdjh]

5. I wasn't aware that the EU owned Jerusalem.