Israel in last-minute talks on entry to EU program
By HERB KEINON
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Through entry to the ENP, Israel hopes to gain entrance to a number of institutions and programs that are currently closed to non-EU members, such as the European Space Agency and the European Environment Agency.

In months of negotiations, the sides have looked for a "balance" between the baskets, meaning that if Europe wants to institutionalize a political role in different regional issues, it will have to compensate Israel by giving it entrance to various economic, scientific, and technological programs currently closed to it.

According to Israeli officials, in recent weeks there has been a lively debate among the Europeans as to how much of the EU should be open to Israel.

While outgoing European Enlargement Commission head G nter Verheugen is believed to be favorable to Israel, countries such as France, Belgium, and Britain are concerned that this will be interpreted in the Arab world as anti-Palestinian, and are more circumvent in how much access they want Israel to have to EU institutions.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, meanwhile, wrapped up his three-day visit to Israel with a lecture at Tel Aviv University Tuesday in which he said that Europe's vision of Middle East peace is one in which there is coexistence between Israel and a democratic, viable Palestinian state, with recognized borders and its capital in east Jerusalem. Barnier also said such a state must "demonstrate a will" to give Israel the security guarantees it needs.

Barnier also defended his decision in June, roundly criticized by Israeli officials, to meet Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

"History has taught us that we don't chose our enemies," Barnier said, "but with them we have to make peace. I know what the conventional wisdom here is about the head of the PA, and what is said about those who meet with him. But our opinion is that nothing will happen without Yasser Arafat, or against [his will], and that keeping him a prisoner reduces the chances of bringing him to take the steps that everyone expects of him."

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