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Israel's Eastward Shift

(Ha'aretz) Moshe Arens - Slowly but surely Israel is pivoting toward the East. Since most of Israel's population originated from Europe, and most of its leadership had its roots in Europe, for many years Israel might have been considered an outpost of Europe in the Middle East. Europe remained Israel's closest connection to Western civilization. For many years, economic development in China, Japan, India, and South Korea has been outpacing economic development in Europe. It is natural that Israel's economic relationship with these countries would begin to rival its relationships with the countries of Europe, which seem to be in permanent economic crisis. But that is not the only reason for this turn to the East by Israel. Europe is the graveyard of European Jewry. Moreover, Europe, in recent years through the machinery of the EU, has waged a constant campaign of criticism and condemnation of the policies pursued by Israeli governments, going so far as imposing economic sanction against Israel. By contrast, the Far East and India have no history of anti-Semitism. Quite the contrary - they demonstrate admiration for the ancient Jewish civilization and Israeli achievements in science and technology, and are eager to expand cultural and economic relations with Israel. The writer served as Israel's Minister of Defense three times and once as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
2014-05-26 00:00:00
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