Israel's European Pipe Dream

Desire to join EU won't materialize unless we renounce Jewish State's essence

Taken from Ynet News, Israel, 23.02.07,
By Sharon Pardo

Seventy five percent of Israelis are interested in joining the European Union, according to a survey undertaken by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Israel. Quite a few leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, Silvan Shalom, Avigdor Lieberman and others, are also talking about Israel joining the EU in the future. Meanwhile, some in Europe itself, including Silvio Berlusconi in Italy and the Transnational Radial Party in the EU parliament, are engaged in a campaign for full-fledged Israeli membership.

This is an amazing phenomenon, where citizens and senior policymakers in Israel are clinging to an idea that not only has no chance of materializing in the foreseeable future, but can also gravely undermine the essence of the country.

The support for the notion of Israel joining the EU completely ignores the contradiction between Israel's essence as the Jewish State and the Jewish people's country, and the basic idea the EU is premised on – turning the continent into an open, united space, devoid of internal borders, where there is no significant difference between the citizens of member states.

The fact that Israel is a democratic, liberal country where humanistic universal values are part of the local spirit does not change the Jewish State's reality and aspirations. Israel is a unique case, which is radically different than other countries. This essential difference will prevent it from joining the EU, even if it were invited to join it. On the other hand, renouncing its uniqueness is akin to abandoning Israel's "raison d'etat," when examined through Jewish-Zionist eyes.

False hopes
It is easy to provide concrete examples, such as the contradiction that exists between the Israeli Law of Return and the freedom of movement of people in the European space. Israel's aspiration to constitute a central element in the prosperity of the entire Jewish nation is also incommensurate with the values of the European Union and its institutions.

In terms of the political reality, as EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner explained, Israel is not perceived by official institutions as a candidate for joining the EU in the foreseeable future. Instead, it makes do with membership in the "European Neighborhood Policy," which aims to bring all Europe's new neighbors closer to the EU.

Israeli aspirations and hopes to join the EU in its current format are therefore false both in terms of values and political reality. Instead, we should aspire to deepen our cooperation with the EU. This aspiration should be a basic point of departure to a grander strategy. It may be appropriate to reconsider this position in the long run. However, in the first half of the 21st century, and likely in the more distant future as well, Israel will not be joining the EU as a full-fledged member.

Dr. Sharon Pardo is the executive director of the Center for the Study of European Politics and Society at Ben Gurion University, which assisted in undertaking the Konrad Adenauer Foundation survey