ࡱ> >@= 7bjbj 4$) AAAAAUUU8, U".$P "~AcccAAcAAcwp]U0"p#^p#p#AR&xdyX"ccccp# : time for europe Baron Frankal A decade after the birth of the EUs common foreign policy, nothing remotely worthy of the name exists. Iraq was only the most public failure. The main problem is that unlike smaller Member States, which generally only have regional or border policies, the bigs have perceived political interests around the world and glittering embassies and other historical baggage to match. They are not ready for foreign policy by committee. Despite the fact that the UK, France, Germany and Italy still punch above their weight in fora such as the UN and the G7, their influence is visibly declining. Enter, stage right, Hamas. World opinion on what to do with the new democratically-elected but in-favour-of-Israels-destruction Palestinian government is sharply polarised between understanding of Hamass support for actions against a military occupation it was elected to end (its own ceasefire has lasted a year) and those, like the US, who consider it a terrorist organisation like Al-Qaeda. The US-UN-EU-Russia quartet that put together the effectively-defunct road map peace plan is now disintegrating. Its envoy has resigned and Russia invited the Hamass leader to Moscow. With French approval. France also supports continuing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, which it argues is in line with the EUs nuanced line that direct aid remains suspended until Hamas renounces violence and accepts both signed agreements and Israels right to exist, but the EU will continue all necessary assistance to meet the Palestinians basic human needs. This is the right decision. The EU should go even further. The conditions should be met - but surely this is to be sought through engagement. Israel, understandably, is unable to engage what it sees as its mortal enemy. The EU has experience and success to draw on, e.g. with the IRA and ETA and stands in the unique position of being a world class power with standing and even boots on the ground in the occupied territories that is not seen as being in Israels pocket. We even have potential leverage, being Israels number one supplier and its number two exports market. Back in the sixties, Israel even considered applying to join the EU. If there is ever to be hope of equitable progress in this bitterest of conflicts, the central problem of Palestinian poverty and desperation needs to be addressed. A growing Palestinian economy and aspirations for the future are needed. A passport, the ability to travel to neighbouring villages and the prospect of work would be a good start. Doing nothing has exactly the opposite effect taking away the props on which a fragile society heavily rests. Having invested huge amounts of everything, including lives, in advancing democracy in the Middle-East, it is awkward to punish the Palestinians for making the wrong choice in a free and fair election. Making Palestinians lose weight, but not die, until they change their minds, is not a solution. If nothing else, Europe should act in this neighbouring region for its own sake: Lebanon is just 200km away. Decisions will be taken in Israel in the coming months which will see final borders drawn and a Palestinian rump left over. Whether a poverty-stricken, failed chaos or a contiguous state with hopes of normality hangs in the balance. Time for Europe. 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