A Foreign Ministry official has been warning European countries that
unless they curtail criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's government,
Israel will block the European Union from participating in the
diplomatic process with the Palestinians.
The main target of the offensive is EU External Affairs Commissioner
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who recently called for a freeze in upgrading
ties with Israel over its peace process policies.
Several days ago, the deputy director for Europe at the Foreign
Ministry, Rafi Barak, began calling European ambassadors in Israel
regarding the attitude toward the new government. The first
conversations were with France's Jean-Michel Casa, Britain's Tom
Phillips and the Charge d'Affaires of the German
embassy.
Barak sharply protested the criticism by European ministers and
senior EU officials about Israel's government.
Barak singled out Ferrero-Waldner in his rebuke and said her
statements were troubling in their form, style and timing.
"For some weeks now, we have been telling everyone in Europe that
Israel's government needs time to reformulate policies, and not to
Attachment Converted: "c:\documents and settings\tcc3\application
data\qualcomm\eudora\attach\war in the press, Barak told the diplomats"
decision on freezing the upgrading of ties, and therefore it was
unclear what gave Ferrero-Waldner the authority to make her
statements.
"We want the European Union to be a partner [in the diplomatic
process] but it is important to hold a mature and discreet dialogue
and not to resort to public declarations," Barak told the
diplomats.
"A public confrontation was created that required Prime Minister
Netanyahu, and even opposition head Tzipi Livni, to intervene. We
have noted that the large European countries have respected our
request and are granting the government time, but it is important
that Europe be uniform in this matter," Barak added.
Barak concluded by "warning" that Europe's influence in the area
would be undermined by such behavior. "Israel is asking Europe to
lower the tone and conduct a discreet dialog," he said. "However, if
these declarations continue, Europe will not be able to be part of
the diplomatic process, and both sides will lose."
In a telegram to the Israeli missions in Europe, Barak briefed the
Israeli diplomats on his conversations and noted that the sole
ambassador in Israel who backed Ferrero-Waldner was the French. He
was quoted as saying that her statements reflect the European
public's feelings.
A political source in Jerusalem noted that Ferrero-Waldner was
sharply criticized by European officials, and one European foreign
minister said in a private conversation that she "is causing damage
to European foreign policy in her attacks on Israel."