Anders Vistisen is a Danish politician and Member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the Danish People's Party, sitting in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. Mr. Vistisen is the first Vice Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the ECR Coordinator in the Special Committee on Terrorism (TERR).
I strongly believe that Europe has to engage better and more with Israel. It is about high time to acknowledge that Israel is a nation and a country that exists in its own right. Europe should act accordingly and embrace Israel and its people.
There is no question that Israel is a strategic asset to Europe. Israel is our most reliable ally in the Middle East. It is the region’s only stable democracy, and it is a stellar security partner. Europe and Israel face many common security threats. But there are also moral and economic reasons. Europe and Israel share democratic values, committed to freedom, justice, and peaceful relations with others. And from an economic perspective, it is fair to say that Israel matters to Europe. Israel is an important trading partner for the EU in the Mediterranean area and has a remarkable reputation as a startup nation.Israel is widely admired in Europe for its innovativeness and academic and creative exports.
In this regard, it is unfortunate that European politicians only talk about Israel in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The fact that the peace process has not been settled may not be an obstacle to EU Member States to enhance its bilateral ties with Israel. And when the Middle East Peace Process is – rightly – discussed, I sincerely hope that finally a reference can be made to, among other things, Palestinian hate speech, incitement to terrorism and salaries for convicted terrorists. In my opinion, those are topics that should be high on an agenda that has peace in its title.
I find it highly paradoxical that Israel has gained the reputation of an aggressor and bully. I have been to Israel and my overwhelming impression is not of war-lust, but of insecurity. I have seen with my own eyes that Israel, from north, south and east, is extremely vulnerable to siege. I therefore realise – more than others who have not yet visited the country and who blindly follow the anti-Israel media – how fearful Israelis are that they could actually be driven into the sea in a matter of hours. While the international community goes after a democratic country, Israel, it has completely ignored an EU listed terrorist organisation; Hamas. Also, I am convicenced that the overwhelming number of opponents of the Iran deal do not recognise Iran's true intentions within and beyond its borders.
In short, I call on the EU and its Member States to abandon their short-sighted approach to Israel. I hope that common sense will eventually prevail.