Re: However the Sephardic (Ibero-Jewish), and Native Israelis (Sabras) generally find their ties to be stronger to the middle eastern culture.
Israeli Prez Moshe Katsav, who floated the EU-membership idea, is an Iranian Jew.....
Re: ...few can see where Europe stands to gain anything by upsetting the Arabs (and their precious oil supplies) by bringing the Jews into the EU. It certainly would not go over well with the Turks who have ALSO been trying to gain entre to the European markets and are just as secular as the Israelis.
The largest oil company in the world is LUKOIL, a Russian monopoly (listed on the NYSE) and, overall, Europe relies increasingly upon Russia as regards its energy supplies (electricity, gas and oil).
The Turks?? Who cares? BTW, Israel also harbors an Arab/Muslim population, so, by coopting Israel as a new EU member, Europe would show its "multidenominational pledge" --Arab Israelis would be EU citizens as well... And don't forget the clincher for the EU's reach to Israel: next Pope Lustiger (a converted Jew).
As for my Espresso article that reports Katsav's opinion, believe me Ron, I did my best to dig out an English source.... I'll try again but hey, Italian is not that difficult, is it??
Gus. |
