Israel and Europe: Past, Present and Future
by Israel Highway Staff

Israel has always had a very interesting relationship with Europe. The modern day political concept of "Zionism" was invented in Europe. Many of Israel's founding fathers and mothers came from Europe with European philosophies, ideas and attitudes. Israel's socialist underpinnings were transplanted from Europe and some elements still continue today.

With good - or very bad - intentions, Europe can also be credited for the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel. Europe's anti-Semitism led Theodor Herzl to promote a Jewish State more than 100 years ago. The Nazi attempt to destroy all of European Jewry forced the world to support a Jewish homeland for the survivors after the war. Some European countries, such as Czechoslovakia, helped arm the fledgling state of Israel in 1948. French weapons helped Israel win the 1967 war, and French technical assistance helped Israel develop its nuclear technology, an important deterrent to countries seeking Israel's destruction.

Ever since the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the Arab oil boycott imposed on the world, European countries have often turned their backs on Israel or taken strong pro-Arab stands. European countries are now quick to condemn Israel for actions of self-defense, while reluctant to condemn Palestinian terrorism. Symbolically, France immediately provided Yasser Arafat his last shelter. Why this European turn?

Some claim European attitudes to Israel are a holdover from Europe's anti-Semitic past. The hatred once directed at the Jews in Europe is now directed at the only Jewish state. Others argue that as Europe freed itself of its own colonialist past, it looks with utter distaste at anything it sees as "colonialism," including Israel's administration of the West Bank. In addition, Europeans' need for Arab oil may play a role in their seeking of Arab favor. And some observers of Europe claim that the rapid-growing Arab and Muslim populations in Europe are realigning the domestic politics of European countries. One historian has even termed the emerging phenomenon "Eurabia."

Whatever the reason, mistrust describes the relationship between Europe and Israel today.

It is surprising to learn that Europe is Israel's greatest trading partner, with one-third of Israel’s total exports going to Europe and more than half of Israel’s imports coming from there. The European Union’s European Council endorsed granting Israel special economic status in the European Union in December 1994. A free trade zone exists between Israel and the EU so that there are no trade barriers such as tariffs.

Israel has rather grudgingly given Europe a seat at the peace process negotiating table. The European Union is one quarter of 'The Quartet' which endorsed the "Road Map to Peace." President Bush traveled to Europe this week, and in several speeches he acknowledged European concerns for Palestinian interests. "I have asked Secretary Rice to ... convey America's strong support for the Palestinian people as they build a democratic state," the President stated. "And I appreciate the prominent role that Prime Minister Blair and other European leaders are playing in the cause of peace."

While the current relationship with Israel and Europe is fraught with suspicion, Israel nevertheless turns to Europe because of the long joint history, the economic ties, the geographic proximity, and precisely because of Europe's close ties to the Arabs and Iranians. Last month, Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom explained, "Europe can make no greater contribution to bringing peace to this region than bringing the reign of Palestinian terror to an end. It is imperative in this context that the EU also include Hizballah on its list of terrorist organizations. Hizballah is today directly involved in the financing and planning of the majority of Palestinian terror attacks on Israel, while also seeking constantly to inflame our northern border. Israel has deep concerns regarding Iran's ongoing nuclear weapons program. ...We remain convinced that the international pressure on Iran must be stepped-up, in order to ensure the full cessation of Iran's efforts to develop nuclear capabilities."

Additional information
Israel & Europe: An Expanding Abyss, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Roundtable: Israel and Europe, Yale Israel Journal
Israeli Cooperation with Europe, Jewish Virtual Library

Sharon's Cabinet Begins Charting Israel's Future Borders
by Karin Laub

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Cabinet began charting Israel's future borders in a historic session Sunday, giving final approval to a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a revised route for the West Bank separation barrier that would move Israel's border closer to that of its original frontier. (Daily Herald)

Sharon Calls for "Real" Palestinian Steps

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon Wednesday demanded the Palestinians take "real steps" to dismantle terror organizations and their infrastructure. "It must be clear to the new Palestinian leadership that a cease fire can only be the first step and that they must take real steps to dismantle terrorist organizations and (their) infrastructure and advance sweeping governmental reforms," said a statement released by his office. (UPI/Washington Times)

Israel Back On Wisconsin Program by Gabrielle Birkner

The University of Wisconsin last week became the first major public university to reinstate its study abroad program to Israel.

It had been among the scores of American universities that had suspended or revoked their Israel-based programs in 2001 and 2002 after a spate of suicide bombings and travel warnings.

UW officials said they decided to re-establish their longstanding presence at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School due to heightened security measures at the Jerusalem campus, fewer recent terrorist incidents in and around Jerusalem, and indications that the region’s political climate is improving.

"The situation has clearly changed since 2002," said Joan Raducha, UW’s director of International Academic Programs. "If students follow precautions, it’s a reasonable decision to study in Jerusalem at Hebrew University." (New York Jewish Week)

Queens College Hillel Welcomes New Israel Fellow by Nathan Weinberg

Queens College students looking for a better understanding of Israeli culture now have the opportunity, thanks to the arrival of Einav Dahari, the new Israel Fellow at the Queens College Hillel.

Dahari has come to Queens College courtesy of the Jewish Agency for Israel, as part of an Israeli outreach effort. The Jewish Agency has sent 20 young people from Israel to different North American colleges, hoping to bring Israel into campuses in a different way than the classroom.

I had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Dahari recently, and she explained the purpose of her job here. "My job is not a political job," she explained. Her aim is simply to expose students to different parts of their Jewish and Israeli identity, and she hopes to bring some Israeli culture to Queens College. (The Knight News)

From Israel to South Bend by May Lee Johnson

For students in Mickey Gitzin's third-level Hebrew class, Israel has seemed a little closer to South Bend since he started teaching.

Gitzin is working for the Jewish Agency of Israel and will be here for about a year. He is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph County.

Gitzin, 23, will be working with the Jewish community teaching Hebrew to kids and adults, educating them about the culture of Israel. Gitzin had finished his time working for Israeli military intelligence and wanted to do something different, so he volunteered for the Jewish Agency program. "I want to be the real connection for Jewish people here," Gitzin said. "The reason it is so important for the students and adults to know me, I am what connects them with Israel."

He tells them that there's much more to his country than what the media portrays. "One of my greatest hopes is to be able to show the good things about Israel," Gitzin said. "I get so upset when the media shows one side of the fighting and suicide bombing. It seems the Israelis are shown negatively, and really, we are only trying to protect ourselves and our families." (South Bend Tribune)

Lessons from Canadian Clowns in Israel by Shira Stanleigh

So you thought your friends went to Israel for the year to "learn" in yeshiva/seminary? In fact, they spend much of their time just "clowning around."

Through my involvement in a new program, I have become a staunch supporter of medical clowning. Although I knew the benefits were recognized, I needed to see it for myself to understand how it works as a humane and helpful way of approaching disease.

Kedma is an international student organization that is affiliated with the Orthodox movement. It helps disadvantaged communities in Israel and promotes the concepts of social justice and tikkun olam.

When they initially approached me to co-ordinate their health projects while I was pursuing a year abroad in Israel from York University, I thought, "Wonderful – blood drives, bone marrow donor recruitment, etc...." – all things that have been recognized by the scientific community as beneficial.

Then my boss approached me about a recently inaugurated initiative – medical clowning. (Canadian Jewish News)

U.S-Born Becomes New Israeli "Ambassador" by Roee Holler

American-born Eytan Schwartz was declared the winner of a reality television show to select a spokesman for Israel. Schwartz fought off 14 contenders in "The Ambassador" to win a year-long position in the New York-based public relations firm Israel at Heart.

Delivering his victory speech at Ben-Gurion International Airport just before boarding a flight to New York, Schwartz said 20 years earlier he had stood in the very same spot as a new immigrant. "At the time I wanted to go home," he said. "Today, I'm returning to New York, but my home is here. I'm an Israeli."

Contestants were asked to demonstrate skills expected from a Foreign Ministry representative, including public speaking and crisis management. They faced such tasks as media interviews, briefing sessions for journalists, public debates and the drafting of pro-Israel opinion pieces. (Yediot)

StandStrong 4 Israel: Raising Social Awareness, One Bracelet at a Time by Sandra Brujis

A new bracelet has begun to conquer the hallways at the Jewish Day School, one with a deeply meaningful message to the community: StandStrong 4 Israel.

"I’m excited to get the bracelets because of what they represent," said freshman Alli Marmon. "I really need to stand by Israel right now and the bracelet will always remind me of that when I look at it. I’m also excited about wearing it because people will notice it and I can inform them where to get the bracelet if they wanted to support Israel as well."

This version of the Livestrong bracelet was brought to the school courtesy of the senior grade government. According to Secretary of Senior Events Nicola Brodie, the seniors will donate proceeds to "the Students Against Terrorism organization and to a charity to be voted on later by grade government."

The same class that is currently counting down the days until the grade trip to Israel contacted Ben Fine to purchase the bracelets. Fine is the head of Students Against Terrorism that is responsible for supplying the school as well as other organizations including local synagogue Washington Hebrew, with the bracelets that promote support for Israel.

The money donated to Students Against Terrorism for the cost of the bracelets will later be donated to an organization called Camp Koby. The camp is named in memory of Koby Mandell, a 13-year old Israeli killed in a terrorist attack. The slogan for this camp is "The Koby Mandell Foundation: healing broken hearts."

The encouraging message featured on the Israel bands has an important meaning to sophomore Jillian Berman. "Stand strong 4 Israel means using your place as an American Jew to help better the situation in Israel. Basically using the outlets we have here in America, like being able to lobby to the government, to be aware of what's going on and being able to act on it and see what we can do to help," Berman said. The Lion's Tale is published by the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Md (The Lion's Tale)

Arab-Jewish Dialogue Brings Hope to Israeli College by Sheri Shefa

Representatives from the Center for Peace and Democracy Studies at Tel Hai College in Israel – a program designed to create an Arab-Jewish dialogue – came to Toronto last week to promote their message of hope and peace.

Rivka Taylor, an observant Jew from the Bet El settlement near Jerusalem, and Sabrin Odeh, a Christian Arab from the Israeli town of Nazareth, are active in their community, and express their commitment to creating bridges between Arabs and Jews. They do this by sharing their personal experiences, as well as performing songs in Hebrew and Arabic.

The dialogue is a model of how Jews and Arabs can relate to each other, and acts as a forum by which people can express their thoughts and fears about the conflict in Israel, said Sagi Melamed, the director of external relations at Tel Hai. (Canadian Jewish News)

Jewish Fifth-Graders to Learn Conversational Arabic

A pilot project launched in February in 14 elementary schools in northern Israel is meant to bridge the deep divide between Jews and Arabs. Over the next two years, hundreds of Jewish fifth-graders will be taught conversational Arabic, and learn about Arab culture and traditions.

The project, financed in part by the Abraham Fund, a U.S.-Israeli non-governmental group, focuses on Jewish children. Hebrew is mandatory in Israeli Arab schools and most Arab youngsters can speak the language to some degree by middle school. (Ha'aretz)

Israel Seeking Ties with More Arab States

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Monday that Israel was seeking to develop diplomatic relations with 10 more Arab countries as top-level ties with neighboring Egypt and Jordan resume.

"We have already established diplomatic relations, at the level of ambassador, with Egypt, Jordan and Mauritania and I am in touch with other Arab countries ... at least another 10 can have a diplomatic representation in Israel," he told public radio. (Middle East Online)

Going Home by Lisa Alcalay Klug

I love living in the United States, but another place, halfway around the world, is where I feel most spiritually nourished. Israel is my home. I've been there countless times, including three visits in the past six months for my work. If I could, I would board another plane tomorrow. And I am far from alone.

Ever since the forced dispersion of the Jewish people with the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70, the "People of the Book" have longed to return to Zion. During the past few years, thousands of North American Jews have acted on that calling, returning to Israel to claim citizenship in the Jewish state. They are not running away from anything; rather, they are running toward a more meaningful life, a sense of kinship, a greater purpose, an eternal hope.

I have flown to Israel at least a dozen times but never has the atmosphere matched that of the flight I took on Dec. 28, 2004, from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. It was the happiest airplane ride I have ever taken. Happier than a handful of flights filled with tourists going to Club Med or to the Hawaiian Islands. Happier even than my first flight to Israel 20 years ago when I didn't know what to expect of this country that gave refuge to the survivors among my father's siblings.

These 202 passengers were "going home," as many of them told me, to the ancestral home of the Jewish people, whose Law of Return welcomes any person with one Jewish grandparent as a full citizen - the same criterion the Nazis established during World War II to determine targets of the "Final Solution." (Hartford Courant)

Israel's Super Mario Safeguards Nature by Karin Kloosterman

Some have a way with people. Others have a way with the land. Organic farming pioneer Mario Levi has a way with both.

At 81 years old and with plans for the next 50, his name has become a legend among international large-scale growers, small-scale farmers and young American university students.

Arie Wolf, 21, from New Jersey took a semester from school to learn the basics of organic farming with Levi. After a day in the field, Wolfe would come to the dining hall beaming and muttering about how fantastic it was to work alongside Levi, while sharing tales like urban legends to new arrivals. His dinner plate was full of the vegetables he helped grow.

For the remainder of the year, Wolfe went on to teach his newly acquired skills at Teva, an environmental education group for schoolchildren in New York.

Another student Julie Schneider, 20, from Atlanta, Georgia was in Israel during the semester break from Maryland University. Unlike many of the other students who come to the kibbutz requesting to work with Levi, she hadn't yet heard of him and knew very little about organic food.

"I'm so impressed, I don't have a garden at home yet, but I will probably buy more organic produce back in the US," she says. (Israel21c)

Notes From Israel - A Junior Abroad at Hebrew University
by Sarah Katz

How would I sum up a year's experience in Israel? The answer is in a bus ride. In a country riddled with conflicting politics, religions and cultures, it's not uncommon to see thousands of protestors crowded outside the Parliament building, street signs and buildings plastered with political slogans and graffiti and even heated arguments between a cab driver and his customer over the controversial politics of the current administration.

So, while the beauty of the Israeli people may at times seem hidden to the unsuspecting tourist, I have discovered it in one of the most unusual places. I can imagine the horror stricken faces of the mothers who send their children to Israel and forbid them to ride the public buses as I make the following recommendation: in order to truly appreciate the heart of the Israeli people, one must ride the bus.

A close look at a passenger's reading material exposes a true composite of Israeli society. A religious woman stands to the side silently reciting psalms while a student studies from her physics book. A young woman reads a novel written in Russian while a man in a business suit folds a newspaper to the classifieds. In a single bus ride, men and women, young and old, religious and secular, Muslim, Jewish and otherwise, soldiers and students, foreign-born and Sabra (native) share a few moments, differences withstanding. (Student Life, Washington University in St. Louis)

Welcome to Israel - Land of History, Judaism and... Skiing
by Eli Ashkenazi

A group of 21 boys aged 13-16 from Manchester's King David High School arrived in Israel last weekend for a two-week visit. School groups visiting the country are routine, and 200 King David pupils have already been here in the past year. But this particular group was not satisfied with the regular itinerary - the Western Wall, Masada, Lake Kinneret. At the initiative of Gideon Leventhall, a history teacher at King David and the group's leader, the teens decided to do something a bit different, and are devoting a week of their trip to learning how to ski at Mt. Hermon.

"My friends in England laughed at the idea," Leventhall says. "Learning to ski in Israel sounds quite illogical. People in England usually go to Scotland, France or Switzerland to ski."

One of the pupils, Michael Lara, says he also received skeptical responses to the idea. "Many people don't even know there is skiing in Israel." (Ha'aretz)

‘Jerusalem Was the Highlight,’ Canadian MP Says of Trip to Israel
by Joel Jacobson

When Michael Savage had the opportunity to go to Israel, and specifically to Jerusalem, he jumped at the chance to fulfil his father’s dying wish for him.

Last month, the MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour spent five days in Israel on a trip with the Commons standing health committee, which was studying the country’s emergency preparedness.

His father, the late Dr. John Savage, a former premier of Nova Scotia and a staunch Catholic, had visited Israel and seen places of history there, and he specifically told Michael, one of seven children, that he must visit the Holy City. "Seeing Jerusalem was the highlight of the trip," Savage said. (Canadian Jewish News)

California Students Off to Israel

Two Aptos High (CA) juniors are off to Israel for a semester of study they will not soon forget. Max Goldenkranz and Rachel Scott will reside at Kibbutz Tzuba just outside of Israel as part of the North American Federation of Temple Youth program. Some 100 other Jewish high school students are part of the program which will include a week in the Israeli Army, and a visit to Eastern Europe, including Prague, Warsaw and Auschwitz. Max is host of Youthtopia on KUSP 88.9FM radio. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Miri Ben Ami at All Star game

Only in the NBA during a timeout could you get Team Thunder, a trampoline-dunking group from the Warriors, doing their thing to the live sounds of Israeli hip-hop violinst Miri Ben-Ari.

Israelis Rank Top in Internet Use

Israel had the highest percentage of Internet surfers in 2004 compared to Europe and the U.S, according to a survey by financial analyst Business Data Israel Ltd.

More than 50 percent of Israel's 940,000 households have high-speed connections, compared to just 10% in Europe and 22% in the U.S. (Ynetnews)

Israel's National Junior Hockey Team Hits California Ice
by Helene Elliott

The junior national teams of Israel and Mexico began a four-game series last week in El Segundo, practice for the Israelis before next month's World Under-18 championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. The tour is part of a fundraising effort for the Israelis, whose home rink in Metulla was built with donations from Canadian Jews.

"We're helping kids and helping Israel and hopefully creating a different image," said Leonard Silverberg, a Tarzana doctor who helped finance the trip.

The Israelis are coached by Jean Perron, who led the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in 1986. He was invited to work with the youngsters when they toured Montreal in 2003 and became their full-time coach at the request of Alan Maislin, owner of a Montreal trucking firm and chairman of the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel. (Los Angeles Times)

Patriots' Kraft Donates $500,000 to Israeli Football

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft visited Jerusalem this week to attend the reopening of a stadium he helped build for an Israeli flag football league.

Kraft's initial $120,000 donation in 1999 helped pay for the Kraft Family Stadium, a former soccer pitch that was converted into the home of the American Football League in Israel (AFI). This winter, the owner of the three-time Super Bowl champions donated another $500,000 to pay for artificial turf and other improvements to the stadium, which is located in Jerusalem's Sacher Park.

More than 1,000 men and woman participate in AFI's youth and adult flag football programs, founded by American expatriates living in Israel. Fifty-two teams in the top men's league compete for the championship in the annual Holyland Bowl.

Kraft and his wife, Myra, attended the rededication ceremony on Wednesday. The Kraft Family Stadium is also used for baseball, softball, soccer and rugby. (Sports Illustrated)

Israel's Wall Works by Jonathan Chait

The idea that harsh Israeli counterterrorist measures must inevitably backfire is rooted in the view that the Middle East conflict is a "cycle of violence." (No doubt you've heard this phrase countless times.) According to this theory, Palestinians attack Israelis because Israeli repression makes them desperate and angry. More repression creates more desperation and anger, which creates more terrorists. Yet the last Palestinian uprising began as a response not to excessive Israeli strength but to a perception of Israeli weakness.

Sharon's counteroffensive stymied Hamas and the other militant groups and proved to many ordinary Palestinians that they couldn't bleed Israel back to the bargaining table. Indeed, Palestinians came to realize that their uprising was inflicting far more pain on them than on Israel.

To be sure, the current Israeli-Palestinian thaw could easily come undone. Yet the fact remains that we would not have come to this point were it not for Sharon's intransigence. There are a lot of dovish critics, in the United States and (especially) in Europe, who never would have predicted this. I don't hear them apologizing. (Star Tribune)

To Push for Peace Negotiations Prematurely is to Guarantee Another Disastrous Failure by Yossi Alpher

President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apparently understand that the current status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires mainly security and reform measures, and is not ripe for a roadmap-based political process. Hence Rice avoided the Sharm el-Sheik meeting in order not to inadvertently send a deceptive political message. If Israelis and Palestinians are to succeed, we must all concentrate on a measured confidence-building process that focuses on mutual security, Palestinian reform, and cooperation to make disengagement work. We must postpone any move toward renewing a peace process, and work on those aspects of roadmap phase I that both sides can handle, plus disengagement, and avoid getting into phases II or III.

Abbas' views on the right of return mean that a peace process negotiated by him will fail once again. To push a reluctant Sharon and a hard-line Abbas into peace negotiations prematurely is to guarantee another disastrous failure. (Bitterlemons.org)

Is Potential Peace for Real? by Eran Lerman

It should come as no surprise that Israelis nervously awaited the Sharm el Sheik summit, an event bringing together for the first time in more than four years the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan.

Israelis wanted to know: Is this for real? Is the intifada truly over? Or is this merely a photo-op with little to back it up? Having been through several previous cycles of euphoria and despair, a sense of déja vu attaches itself to our outlook; we have all been here before, and the same sad awakening awaits us. But does it?

Israelis have learned something about themselves these last four years. So did our adversaries. Sharon went to the summit leading a country that did not break under the strain of a particularly brutal terror war. Indeed, Israel proved able to effectively rally, respond, remain an active and creative society, and, more recently, revitalize its economy. We may be a quarrelsome and divided country, but at this supreme test we stood almost as one. While Hamas and their ilk may claim the Israeli disengagement from Gaza and part of the West Bank is a Lebanon-like frightened withdrawal under fire, this is simply wrong, and many Palestinians know it. (Miami Herald)

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