A confidential report prepared by the Israeli Foreign Ministry warns that the country is at risk of becoming isolated as the European Union (EU) grows
more powerful. The report goes to predict that if the 25 nation EU develops a unified foreign policy, they would be at risk of becoming isolated much
like the apartheid South Africa was.
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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel could end up on a collision course with the European Union and face sanctions like apartheid-era South Africa unless the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, a confidential government report warns.
The document, a 10-year forecast prepared by Israel"s Foreign Ministry, predicts that the Jewish state could become increasingly isolated
internationally as the EU grows more influential, political sources said.
The report says that if the recently expanded 25-nation bloc can set aside internal differences and forge a unified foreign policy, it could "harm
Israeli interests" by cutting into the clout wielded by the United States, Israel"s chief ally.
"This could put Israel on a collision course with the European Union," the report says. "Such a collision course holds the risk of Israel losing
international legitimacy and could lead to its isolation in the manner of South Africa."
The report, drawn up in August by Foreign Ministry analysts and meant for use within government circles, reflects growing Israeli worries about the
threat of international sanctions that could turn Israel into a pariah state.
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The report put forth last August was meant for internal government use and suggests a fear within the Israeli government that they are at risk of
becoming a pariah. Israel and the EU have been at odds as of late in regards to the handling of the Palestinian issue. In addition, Israel has pointed
to an increase in anti-Semitism and the fact that it is not being combated. Last Wednesday, the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana detailed a new
plan to get the peace process back on track. However, he also warned Israel that its aid was at risk if it failed to cooperate.