EUROPE: 'Closer Than Ever' to Israel, Regardless

By David Cronin

BRUSSELS, Apr 4 (IPS) - Israel has been described as "closer to the European Union than ever before" by a leading Brussels official, even though a new EU report laments the ongoing killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces.

This week, the European Commission published a series of progress reports on its relations with countries neighbouring the 27-country bloc.

Benita Ferrero Waldner, the EU's external relations commissioner, used the occasion to indicate that she is keener to foster closer ties with Israel than with almost any other country in the Mediterranean region.

As well as remarking that Israel is "closer to the European Union than ever before," she said that a "reflection group" is studying how relations between the two sides can be upgraded to a "truly special status."

Formed in March last year by Tzipi Livni, Israel's deputy prime minister, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's foreign minister, the reflection group has been tasked with paving the way for Israeli participation in implementing EU policies.

But Ferrero Waldner's upbeat assessment of EU-Israeli ties contrasts with the recognition her officials have given to how Israeli forces are responsible for much of the violence that blights the Middle East.

In a new report, the Commission notes that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulted in the deaths of 377 Palestinians during 2007. This was 29 times higher than the 13 Israeli lives lost.

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