Good for Ashton, Europe, and Gaza
Today’s visit to Gaza by the EU’s foreign affairs chief is as important for the EU as it is for Gaza. So far the appointment of the obscure Baroness Ashton has attracted something between deep scepticism and ridicule.
But the decision to send her into Gaza is seen by many as a deft and right decision. The negotiations to give Israel associate trading status with Europe have long been controversial.
There are strong pure trade reasons for allowing such a status. To trumpet a trade deal with Israel at such a moment is hard, but not impossible to imagine.
Only two other European foreign ministers have been to Gaza since the Israeli invasion two years ago.
Many senior foreign officials attempting the visit have been barred by Israel. In today’s circumstance, Cathy Ashton has proved un-barrable.
At the same time the visit allows her, at last, to assert herself as Europe’s voice. It remains to be seen what kind of voice the Baroness will have.
I asked two days ago in Snowblog “where is Europe? Where indeed is Britain in all this?”
The answer, I did not know then, is that Cathy Ashton clearly intends to raise the profile of the EU diplomatic role in it all.
She will travel on to the ongoing Quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) discussions in Moscow.
Hilary Clinton, looking both ways on Israel-Palestine – as so many American Secretaries of State before her – is already there.
Someone asks in the Snowblog thread this week where is the Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, at such a moment? Answers on a postcard-sized contribution to the thread please.
The EU has long had a huge financial input into the Palestinian territories, but much of what was done by Europe in terms of boosting civic society – building police stations, town halls, electoral infrastructure, has been reduced to rubble.
In trading terms, economically vibrant Israel needs Europe, rather more than Europe needs Israel.
Hence Europe can emerge in the region as something of an honest broker. But to do so will take unprecedented skill.
A tough challenge for Ms Ashton. She has to be prepared to say “boo” to the American goose and talk turkey with the Israeli gander.
Was the “medieval siege” – as UN relief boss John Ging called it – of Gaza happening anywhere else on earth (with the possible exception of the Congo) the perpetrator would be the object of a sanctions movement and more.
The occasional threatened arrest of the odd Israeli functionary at Heathrow hardly represents “pressure”.
A region that has had more than its fair share of “dark days”, is in a deep slough of despond. Rumours of a new Israeli move on Lebanon, fears of a strike on Iran, do not improve the prospects.
Maybe it behoves even the most sceptical to wish Cathy Ashton well.
Related posts:
- Breaking the silence around Gaza?
- Was truth the first casualty in Gaza?
- Gaza through the eyes of Israel and the UN
- Gaza journalists who defied Israel deserve their gongs
- Israel's workforce reflects security fears
There are 29 comments on this post
Jon, is it possible for C4News to find out how much Tony Blair is being paid and what knd of expenses he enjoys as the Middle East envoy? With his track record we would expect it to be not inconsiderable yet he has been singularly unsuccessful.
Wouldn’t it be a delicious moment if the much maligned baroness made more progress than all her high profile predecessors?
This is rubbish – you are more concerned with politicians reputations than the people of Gaza . To blazes with Blair – he has no intention of doing anything – and neither will the Baroness . You are just playing a game – their game – and they are much better at than you . Its the game that needs changing .
There is no new peace process so TB is fine wherever he comfortably is, otherwise that would mean having to work but more damaging still and TB knows it far too well now, having to show his criminal face on the world stage once again. Not damaging for him because he is a war criminal but for us.
What a farce that has all been. I just hope for both Palestinians and Israelis, that TBs successor is someone who genuinely cares.
As for trade between The Middle East and Europe, I can only see the wrong people benefiting and the devastating situation continuing.
adzmundo The Venus Project & CND
TB. Discussing with PM Fayyad” The dignity and Justice” of Palestinian statehood.?
Trip to Africa Sierra Leone?
Writing a book?
The other side of the coin Cathy Ashton?
Diplomacy at work. Perhaps it is better for two separate people with slightly more bias for one view than another , but still looking two ways, than Hilary’s schizophrenic excursion.
Sometimes our leaders surprise us and actually deliver something decent. I still remember when Zapi took Spain out of Iraq. I was so proud. Maybe we could still see the EU applying the toughest possible sanctions against Israel? One can only hope… It would also speed up my weekly shopping not having to check all groceries for country of origin.
The situation is utterly hopeless as the US is the only power broker in the region and it is never going to put any real pressure on Israel – ever!. Just examine the rhetoric over the last few days. Started off with the US being particularly aggrieved by Israel’s actions in east Jerusalem before settling down to the old ` we are great friends but all friends disagree from time-to time’ Meanwhile, the settlements go on and on and on.
Agree totally – the US and its lapdogs [ inc very much ROI] – have not the slightest intention – yet they sya [ many of them that human life is sacred etc – yet have massive wepons industries . Someone said ME should be carpet bombed with videos or DVDS of the ”Life Of Brian ”. I think it would be a good idea to do same to many of Southern States of US – they are techically adavnced – but mentally pre Ice Age
Well Barreness Ashton is visiting Palestine.Do the EU hope there is an Israeli attack at the time?? Do you really think she will achieve anything other than to mouth platitudes to the Palestinians As for sanctions Maverde , to achieve what ends?
Sanctions hurt those at the bottom of the pile , so would hurt the Palestinians harder than the Israelis.I bet both the Palestinians and the Israelis will wonder who she is or is she travelling on Toni Blairs passport???
You are talking bottom of the pile Adrian. What YOU don’t understand is that WE are bottom of the pile.
The diplomatic department is an entirely separate department. It is a department which runs irrespective of party politics.It has links with ISC and intelligence overseas.
We the general public ,by its very nature have no access to information , what is highlighted in the media, or what is worked upon to create impressions of truth.We react to what we have seen or what has been reported upon.
Sanctions, it has been said by the diplomatic department, do not work if they are not severe and short.It is true that they hurt the poorest first and is another reason why they should not be prolonged.
The work of a diplomat is a continuum which is, in the main low profile and should be kept that way.
Sadly the Baroness is part of the continuing charade that Western leaders go through supposedly to secure peace in the Middle East. Not one government in the quartet has the interests of Palestinians at the centre of their policy there. Rather they use the conflict as part of their own geopolitical objectives. Add in the sad fact that Zionism is deeply infiltrated into the political elites of the West meaning no leader whatever they think would be right or moral to do can actually achieve it and you see why nothing gets achieved. Israel wants to slowly but surely acquire the remaining territory with or without the Palestinians. A huge international crime is being carried out and Lloyd George and other British politicians who aided Zionism should be condemned for their actions.
phil, i think you will find that in reality the territory is israelis
I answered this before , but obviously it is not a popular opinion. The world Zionist organisation has its branches over the world and although the Jewish in differenty political parties, consider the homes they live in as their homeland , they also consider themselves as exiles if they are not living in Israel. It is nonsensical to have it both ways and an excuse for land steal.
How on earth did Blair qualify for the job as Middle East envoy? I am amazed anyone in the region is prepared to even speak tor him – given his abysmal record as George W Bush’s former lap dog.
The Saudis and his rich friends in the Gulf, perhaps?
Its the paxpayers who are the ” suckers ” – they are the ones who are paying this useless entity to do a job that he never had any intention of doing . Doubt if he could care less who speaks to him – as long as now and again he gets a photo opportunity . If any normal person did their job the way he does that one – they would be unemployed . In fact he is an obstacle – if he were not there , someone might do the job – but who will say ”boo” to the Americans – The baroness on her holiday – sorry diplomatic trips – a sorry joke . When one think s of the amounts of money that are wasted at top level – we could all be far better off financially with a fraction of all these overpaid , underworked envoys , politicinas etc – their main interest in most cases – if one loks at the record —is themselves .
Hi Jon
I am somewhat confused by your report. Apart from collecting some airmiles what will Baroness Ashto do and what authority does she have?
Andy judging by the lack of news it has created ,NOTHING..Isn,t it strange nothing about the Unite strike threat nor the potential strike on the railways .Could it be that the left wing channel 4 does not report anything that might be detrimental to Labour ???????
Adrian, you know that is not accurate. I could just as easily complain about the lack of blogs on the RBS pension pay off or William Haigue’s obvious deceit
One of the main reasons I like this blog is that it allows us discuss things that are of interest though not necessarily part of a one-hour news bulletin.
I’m sure C4News will cover BA strike and rail strike and whatever the rights and wrongs of the two disputes, both play straight into Cameron’s hands.
While I disagree with Jim that Blair is irrelevent as part of the mid east discussion, I do agree that the whole system needs changing. I just can’t see any way of doing it short of revolution,.
Forget about Blair ; He holds the least credible personna on the region. He is there because he was deemed to be the ”friendly US/ Eu gut. The one who would ensure that the moral ballast which the US afforded Israel was always evenhanded. Did he even bother to enter Gaza before Ms Clinton’s arrival, notwithstanding that he’d held the appointment for many months at the time?- He showed up just before Clinton first tour .-whose a poodle now !
What the baroness should be trying to do ore that anything else is to determine what war crimes Israel did commit during operation Dead Lead,; establish if the war was illegal, disproportionate , and if illegal weaponry was used ; She should then report immediately to the UN and urge that court to cudgel itself out of inertia and proceed with their deliberations against both sided.
But the Israelis until this week have always relied on strong US bias in the region.The denunciation of Israel building yet more settlements in Jerusalem may have been too much for the US to stomach as it coming as it did when Mr Mitchell was about to restart negotiations- and had to abandon them.
It would be naive to assume that the mortar fire from Gaza has not served some sinister purpose in it’s timing.
There has been mumbling about a new intifada by the Palestinians.
To this end the atmosphere was further poisoned by a recent decision by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to add two Islamic sites — the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, which Jews call the Cave of the Patriarch, and the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem, known to the Jews as Rachel’s Tomb — to a newly-founded list of Jewish heritage sites.
Another source of tension has been a decision by the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, to destroy an entire Arab neighbourhood in the eastern part of the city in order to build tourist facilities. Deemed an “act of rape” and “ethnic cleansing”, Palestinians argue that the demolition of dozens of homes in the Silwan neighbourhood is but a further attempt to judaise Arab East Jerusalem.
The Baroness must act prudently , with circumspection , and with a sense of independence which is not contingent on pandering to any US Israeli lobby groups – nor is it patronosing to an Arab community at its wits end
”The Baroness must act prudently , with circumspection , and with a sense of independence which is not contingent on pandering to any US Israeli lobby groups – nor is it patronosing to an Arab community at its wits end”- What world are u living in – ” prudently ” ” circumspection ” – words that would delight any beuricrat who intends to do nothing – which is exactly waht the baoness will do/ achieve – Do you really expect some UK Baroness to law down the law to the US – as some one put it recntly — you are joking – right .
The facts on Israel and the Palastinians.
Israel can do whatever it likes and the U.S. and Europe will do nothing as Israel is their political master.
U.N. and Nuclear rules do not apply to Israel.
Even the moderate Palestinians will over time will have been proved wrong. Israel does not want peace it wants the complete distruction of the palestinians.
Sad future, but true.
Jon I have to tell you this and this is totally out of synch with your article’
You have strong competition . Krishnans ties are superb.. he has one’s with ants on , another which looks like chives in full flower, large psychadelic , but tasteful flowers, cupids and tonight a cubist one.
Can I design you one?
margaret i hope Trishnan has a competition for one of his ties.
Saltaire do you and i watch the same news ??? If so watch an interveiw of a tory politician then one of a government one and see the difference .To me the one who should be interrogated and made to prove or show their correctness is the one who is in charge of events and that is the government mp.It just doesn’t happen .As you say they refuse to come on or comment , for that alone they should be ripped to pieces .If that happened they would soon come on to try and defend their position.
Saltaire , i would love to agree withyou about coverage , but it was there tonight .BA , absolutely nothing from the government and Tristam attempting to divert attention away to Ashcroft.Two major potential paralysing disruptive desputes and no government intervention or spokespersons available .Barely a comment from Tristan , only a go at the Tories .What a surprise.
The purpose of this blog the EUs intervention ,NOTHING.
But the job of the interviewer is to put the opposite view and not let the politicians spout their propaganda and just make party points. If he’d been interviewing the government about unite, he would have challenged their willingness to switch the subject to Ashcroft.
The reason the government weren’t interviewed was because they refused the invitation, which a) tells you a lot about the government and b) gave a tory spokeswoman the chance to criticise the union and the government.
The reason I choose C4News is that they don’t let any politicians off the hook.and the best way to tell if they are doing their job is if all sides think they are being picked on.
Watched channel 4 new this evening that included theinterview with Kyra Isaq’s father,which is one of several interviews channel 4 has had with him.He is always eager to blame the authorities and this evening was demanding that senior social services employees at Brmingham council be sacked.
Why do you never ask him the question’where were you when your daughter was starving to death?
When was the last time you visited your daughter before she died?
Is this just a question of lazy journalism or just slavish adherence to PC?
The Israeli leaders once again have shown that they only wish to prolong the agony by allowing further housing projects in areas which have been ruled illegal internationally.
General Petraeus, in a statement to the Senate’s Armed Services Comittee, said that a perception of American favouritism for Israel was fomenting anti-American sentiment- BBC, ‘from our own correspondent article’ on Saturday, 20 March.
The general publicly said that his job, in Iraq and Afghanistan, is not being helped, that American lives are being endangered, by the widespread bitterness engendered by an unresolved Arab- Israeli conflict.
The article noted that such a ‘public ‘ statement coming from a top US general was ‘highly unusual’.
It is high time the Israelis and Palestinians were told to make up their differences. Israel’s careless snub has weakened Netanyahu’s position and Obama should force him to produce plans for peace, acceptable to the majority of Palestinians and Israelis.