Clegg plays to the gallery on Gaza
Daniel Korski 2:28pm
Nick Clegg wants Britain to push the EU to end trade with Israel. In a Guardian article, the Lib Dem leader vies for the left-wing, anti-Iraq vote and argues that the EU "must immediately suspend the proposed new cooperation agreement with Israel until things change in Gaza."
If we overlook the article's factually incorrect claim that the EU suspended its "presence on the Egypt border in response to Hamas's election" -- on 10 November 2008, European foreign ministers extended the mandate of the EUBAM Rafah Mission until 24 November 2009 -- it proposes a return to the bad old days of EU-Israeli animosity, over-simplifies a complex situation, and is likely to make any future EU role in Middle East peace-making difficult.
I have been very sceptical of Israel's Gaza strategy. Like Daniel Finkelstein, I too am moved by the squalor, poverty and the death among the Palestinians in Gaza. I am a strong supporter of Israel, but also believe in a Palestinian state. I even believe that it may be necessary, under certain circumstances, to negotiate with parts of Hamas.
But I take exception to the idea, that Clegg is flirting with in his Guardian piece, that somehow Israel is the only culprit. That Ban Ki-Moon, the UN's Secretary-General was, all along, concerned about Hamas' rocketing of Israel as he now claims he was. That all will be fine if only Israel hangs back, forced by the EU -- under the threat of severed trade ties -- not to react to Hamas' terrorism. (To remind everyone what kind of outfit Hamas really is, one of its leaders helpfully called for Jews -- and Jewish children -- to be targeted around the world.) That Israel is to blame for everything and that Gaza would somehow be a new Dubai if only Israel had not imposed an embargo.
Clegg's piece is, sadly, probably clever politics and may even be a result of genuine indignation. But it is based on a faulty premise and would make European governments irrelevant in the future search for peace.
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PJM
January 7th, 2009 2:56pm Report this commentClegg is a star. Well done Cleggy. Stand by for the mountain of vitriol coming your way in the knowledge that you're a very brave man and you speak for (nearly) all of us.
Austin Barry
January 7th, 2009 2:58pm Report this commentContemptible, but Clegg evidently sees votes out there among the disaffected Islamists in the Dar al-harbs of Luton, Bradford, Tipton etc.
Patrick
January 7th, 2009 3:16pm Report this commentAnother useful idiot for the Islamist cause of destroying Israel.
Rhoda Klapp
January 7th, 2009 3:19pm Report this commentCleggy is playing to the Guardian's readership. It lays down a mark for him without cost.
However, it is not he who makes 'European governments irrelevant in the future search for peace'. They were irrelevant already.
Shlomo
January 7th, 2009 3:59pm Report this commentI too am moved by the squalor, poverty and the death among the Palestinians in Gaza.
Sorry, but nothing demonstrates a misreading of relative poverty in the Middle East more than this statement.
You are only aware of the indigence in Gaza because of the pictures beamed into your home and the statistics commonplace on the Net.
I can assure you that the slums of Damascus, Beirut, 'Amman and particularly Cairo compare favourably the squalor of the Gaza strip.
Tiberius
January 7th, 2009 4:21pm Report this commentIn the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I had this momentary vision of Charles Kennedy doing an interview and saying, "this changes everything."
I assure everyone it was only momentary.
James J
January 7th, 2009 5:24pm Report this commentThere are more Moslems than Jewish voters in the UK even if they don’t (yet) have the financial and political clout.
What is the Downside politically for the Libs?The Middle East is not a big issue for Middle Britain so if they can take the Moslem and Pro-Palestinian Left vote from Labour at the cost of its Jewish support it should give it a lift in some constituencies where they are head to head with Labour.
Neil Turner
January 7th, 2009 5:25pm Report this commentClegg's article is shameful.
Can 2M muslim votes have anything to do with this ?
Not only would the LibDems sell us out to the EU, they also want to carry on where Ny Bevan left off in 1947 in eradicating Israel from the map
This is beyond belief
Frank P
January 8th, 2009 2:40am Report this commentIf you would like to read an informed analysis of the current Israel-Hamas conflict, please don't bother to listen to an ill-informed twat, leading (?) an insignificant political unelectable party; read this instead:
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090107_hamas_and_arab_states
Or of course click over to Melanie Phillips.
Torsten Hertig
January 8th, 2009 1:57pm Report this commentIt's true that Clegg does oversimplify the issue, but nonetheless I do agree with him, on the point that the EU should take a tough stance against Israel. Not because Israel is defending herself against a malicious terrorist organisation, which Hamas is indeed, but rather as matter of punishing Israel for the tough measures taken in to use. Bombing a school and taking the lives of dusins of children in order to hit a few armed men is simply out of proportion, tragic and extremely unethical, and Israel should not go unpunished for it. The EU should let Israel know, that it has the Union's support in defending herself against Hamas, but the EU should also make it clear which kind of measures are acceptable and which are not.
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