Post #2
December 3rd, 2008Christopher Beazley. 7, Cunningham Avenue.
MEP, Ware, Herts. St. Albans, AL1 1JJ
EU - ISRAEL ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT.
- 1) I read with dismay that Israel may be granted access to all EU Trade, Security and Research organisations (and to much more?), giving it a specially preferred status far ahead of the other five states named in the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement: Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco. Is there any guarantee that these other states will be granted the same privileges in the immediate future - that is before the end of 2009? I note also that Lebanon and the “stillborn “road-map-less” state of Palestine have not yet been admitted to the original treaty but MAY be granted an “Interim Status” “some time” in the future! Meanwhile, Israel marches on to what will be the closest thing to EU membership without the basic qualifications for it - it is NOT by any stretch of imagination, in Europe. The Falkland Islands and the Maldives may have stronger cases than Israel, if compassionate grounds are a criterion - as also have the countries of the British Commonwealth. Finally, what happened to Syria? Does it not also border the Mediterranean? I note also - on the official EU website, “SCADPlus Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements”, the text appears manipulated to impute “south” Mediterranean only: this is NOT the limit of the Associations’ scope of application. I note also that Libya is now emerging from political ostracism - should that state not be brought at least up to the starting line before Israel is given the chequered flag? Finally, if the caution regarding Lebanon and Palestine, arises from the turmoil which has undoubtedly occurred in those states, that caution should extend to Israel as the latter has been instrumental in that turmoil.
- 2) Please explain to me what benefits the EU will get from this proposed agreement with Israel. It seems to me that the benefits will be only in one direction - towards Israel. You should also realise that, if Israel gets whatever it wants from the EU - it already gets that from the USA - then it will never be interested in any accommodation with its neighbouring states. Although Israel is effectively a colonial state (of the Jewish Diaspora as a whole), it is far from the model Democracy and near-G7 economy that is often portrayed. Did not Israel recently elect a dead man as Prime Minister? Is Israel listed among the G-20 or would it be in a G-100? So why is Israel always given preferential treatment? We hear a lot about “anti-Semitism (actually the jews constitute only a small part of the semitic people) but perhaps we should focus more on “Semitism”! Should we not beware of that to an equal extent. [I notice that my Spell-check insists on having an upper case "J" for "jews". Am I referring to something national, religious or racial? The same applies to "Semitism"!]
- 3) Most people would agree that the Jewish people had a rough time during World War II (as did many other people before and since). This seems to happen to them every 200 - 300 years or so while they rise to great influence in the intervening period, dominating indigenous societies - commercially, politically and even culturally. I am reminded that Pontius Pilate was unable to withstand the pressure of the Sanhedrin and so condemned an innocent Man (the Christ of the Jews Himself) to death on a cross. But the cycle of retribution was not long coming - the Jews (or Israelites as they were also known) overstepped the mark and Rome reacted by destroying Jerusalem and dispersing the Jewish people throughout the world. Surely we do not want that to happen again? If more powerful states continually give in to Israel’s demands, there will inevitably be a disastrous reaction against the Jews. Let us rather encourage the Jewish State (Arab Israelis have only a second class or “B” identity) to show compassion towards its 35-year long wards with a view to encouraging Israelis to see themselves as “normal” citizens of our world rather than as a “chosen” people pre-destined to rule all others. Thinking of Israel’s suffering during WWII coupled with its behaviour towards the Palestinian people, I am reminded of the Gospel of St Matthew chapter 18 (vv 21-22: We must forgive not merely seven times but seventy-seven times and vv 23-35: The servant is released from his enormous dept then imprisons his colleague for the sake of a pittance).
- 4) I am hoping that you are not vulnerable to either inducement or bullying from the admittedly powerful Zionist lobby (either directly or through your party organisation) and also that you are not apathetic to an issue on which I believe world peace depends. Help to save the Jewish people from their leaders. At least, demand that this issue be not rushed through at such short notice (on Thursday, 04 December 2008). Let it be returned to the original scheduling, in the New Year, so that the matter can be fully debated.
[Apologies for any errors, in textual or factual; I hope there are not many and none significant]
Jim Naisbitt Wednesday, 03 December 2008.
(J.J. Naisbitt B.Sc., M.I.C.E.)
Copy (also by e-mail) to:
All other MEPs of UK Eastern Region,
MP (St Albans)
Bertrand de la Porte
Mike Barnes
End.