Europe judges Israel by a different standard than other countries in the region because it is regarded as a “European country” that should be judged by European standards, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans said in a speech before the Israel Council on Foreign Relations in Tel Aviv on Monday. The ICFR operates under the auspices of the World Jewish Congress.
Timmermans spoke on Israel's relations with the European Union and the Netherlands. "We can never disentangle the destiny of Europe from the destiny of Israel," he said. The Netherlands is considered among Israel’s strongest supporters inside the EU.
Commenting on the perception of Israel in Europe, the Dutch statesman said: "It is hard for the world to deal with an Israel that is perceived as strong, as a 'top dog' and not an 'underdog.' But both images are wrong. Europe needs to be sure not to back Israel into a corner to give in just because it is 'strong.'"
He pledged that the Netherlands "would help guarantee a just peace with firm security guarantees for Israel. I urge Israel not to miss the peace-making opportunity with which it is presented now, because if it fails, we are all in trouble."
On the situation in the Middle East, Timmermans declared: "The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has become a zero-sum gain. You are either for Israel, or you are for the Palestinians. The advantage of choosing sides is that half of the people will be happy with you and the other half will be deeply unhappy with you. But if you don't do that, and take a position that is more neutral, everybody is mildly unhappy with you, to say the least."
He added: "It would be a mistake for Europe to pretend to have an alternative. It should fully support both parties in trying to find a solution."
Timmermans name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, when she is scheduled to step down next year, according to the ‘Jerusalem Post’.
The Dutch foreign minister told the packed auditorium at the Nahum Goldmann Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv that the EU should currently be fully supporting the diplomatic process driven by US Secretary of State John Kerry and not hold out for an alternative offer. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would “jump at an opportunity to say I could get a better deal if I stall,” he said, indicating that the EU should not give him that chance.
Photos: Andres Lacko
