Joseph Muscat Wants Israel To Join EU On Condition It Accepts State Of Palestine
Former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has proposed that Israel be accepted into the European Union on condition that it accepts a free and independent state of Palestine.
“All those who have visited Israel will probably concur that it is essentially a Western country with a liberal economy and vibrant democracy,” Muscat wrote in a Times of Malta opinion piece.
“It would fit in the European Union with next-to-no modifications and is small enough to be assimilated with minimal effort, much less than most candidate countries.”
“My proposal is thus simple. Propose to Israel to become a member of the European Union, where it would surely provide a political, economic and social value added. This would be done with the precondition of the recognition of the State of Palestine with full rights.”
Muscat said that while he cannot predict how Israeli policymakers will react to this proposal, he is certain that several Israelis, particularly the younger generation, will welcome such integration.
“It would also do historic justice to the persecution inflicted upon their forefathers… and enhance their families’ security much more than any Iron Dome,” he said. “Call it the European Dome, if you will.”
“On their side, some European policymakers might frown at the idea. But, surely, giving Ukraine a candidate country status is politically much riskier.”
“Israel would need only to make cosmetic and easy changes to align itself to European rules.”
“Surely, this proposal will be dissected and maybe butchered but I see it as a seed to break the impasse, secure Israel and give Palestinians what is rightfully theirs.”
In 2013, Muscat became the first, and so far only, Maltese Prime Minister to visit Israel and hold official meetings with its leader Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as with the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.
He said he is proud to have done so.
“Those who try to extrapolate this as some kind of endorsement of current actions are out on a limb as much as those saying that Eddie Fenech Adami or Lawrence Gonzi meeting Muammar Gaddafi years (and months) before the revolution did in any way endorse his behaviour in the events that followed,” he wrote.
What do you make of this proposal?
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