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How Europe's Drive for Independence from America Hurts Israel

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)Jeffrey Gedmin - It was hard for many Europeans to accept the kind of dependence they had on the U.S. during the Cold War. Dependence breeds resentment, and many things that were suppressed have risen to the surface across Europe because Europe wants some space from the U.S. after independence. In the changed relationship between Europe and the U.S., with increased competition and touches of rivalry, Israel is seen as a partner or an outpost of the U.S. As some European thinking seeks to cut America down to size, some European thinking also believes it is good to cut Israel down to size, too. Much of what we are seeing has to do with pathology, to define Europe in opposition to the U.S., rather than according to national or regional interests. The writer is Director of the Aspen Institute Berlin.
2004-08-25 00:00:00
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