Three out of four Israelis would like to be part of EU By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem Published: 23 February 2007 Independent
Three-quarters of Israelis want to be in the European Union and more than a tenth would actually leave Israel for Europe if they were granted EU citizenship, according to an opinion poll published yesterday. With Germany scoring an approval rate of 67 per cent, making the second most popular European country after Britain, the poll suggests that the attitude of most Israelis is no longer predominantly coloured by the Second World War and by the Holocaust. At the same time Israelis have a startlingly positive view of the EU given the frequent suspicion of EU policy-making - especially on the Middle East - expressed by elements of the country's political class. The poll carried out by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German foundation, in Jerusalem suggests that Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has played a notable part in warming Israelis to Germany - and indeed to Europe as a whole - with 60 per cent saying that her election as its first female head of government had improved her country's image in the world. The findings show that Israelis over the age of 51 are especially positive about Germany and the EU - with young people still lagging behind in their enthusiasm for Europe. Lars Haensel, the foundation's representative in Israel, said he was "very pleased" that most older Israelis no longer associated Germany with "the dark chapter" of its past. He said: "That chimes with my experience because we do a lot of work with Israeli Jews of German origin and I have never encountered any hostility - quite the reverse." He added that Jews of German origin had played an especially important part in the reconciliation between the countries from the 1950s and that the poll showed "how deep the German- Israeli bond is and will help to bring Europe and Israel even closer". Mr Haensel also said that German commitments to Israeli security - for example by sending peacekeeping forces to Lebanese waters - and the progressive delivery of three state-of-the-progressive delivery of three of a decision first taken by Helmut Kohl when he was Chancellor, had also played a part. Seventy-six per cent of Israelis cited foreign policy as a priority, which suggests that the widespread perception of Tony Blair as a friend of Israel may have influenced Britain's 80 per cent approval as the Israelis' favourite European country. But Mr Haensel suggested that widespread use - and teaching - of English in Israel was also important. Mr Haensel said that he had been surprised by the findings on EU membership since the issue was not even "on the table". The poll suggested that, in general, European involvement in the stepped-up UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) since the war last year, and the EU provision of monitors on the border between Gaza and Egypt, had also influenced the findings. Surprisingly just over 60 per cent of Israelis cited the perception that the "EU helps the Palestinians" as a positive factor while an even higher proportion cited the EU's belief in the rule of law, belief in human rights and protection of minorities - an issue on which Israel has been criticised for its discrimination of Israeli Arabs - as good reasons for supporting Europe. The survey showed that among the 11 per cent expressing a preference for relocating to Europe, the biggest proportion were recent immigrants with fewer roots in the country. Israeli Arabs - also surveyed - were less inclined to leave for Europe than Jews. The most unpopular European country was France, which 61 per cent of Israelis said they disliked and which came significantly below Turkey in approval ratings. On the other hand France was among the most popular destinations for the 50 per cent of Israelis who have visited Europe in the past three years. -- Mario Huet Libertarian Alliance Forum List Administrator ********************************************** Words cannot picture her; but all men know That solemn sketch the pure sad artist wrought ********************************************** James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night ____________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at _AOL.com_ (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000339) . <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
