Can Israel join the E.U?

Considering Israel isn't in Europe, joining the EU would be just a bit daft, now, wouldn't it?

 

Maybe Israel does not being to fulfill even a 10th of the requirements for admition? Maybe Israel isn't in Europe? Maybe the amount of trade between EU and Israel doesn't even begin to approach the amount of trade between EU and the Arab world?

Maybe there whole ideals and theories are around there nazi and racist past...

Maybe, but then Isreal would fit right in, consider its own racist past.

 

Just because UEFA allow you to knock Chelsea out of Europe every other year does not mean you are in Europe.

So ... no.

 

A better question is: why would you want to join the EU?

p.s. let me know how the Judean alliance with Rome worked out...

 

We have a strategic interest in allowing Turkey in.

Plus, Turkey are bending over backwards to comply with all entry pre-conditions.

How about joining NAFTA?

 

When's turkey joining ????????? That's news to the EU ...

 

Well yes. There is of course no schedule for it and until that whole Greece/Macedonia thing is sorted, it ain't going to happen in any case. But you see my point ... Turkey will be in long before some random punter like Israel gets a seat at the table.

 

I am very dissapointed with our government like many other Turks. It`s a shame we try this hard to join EU and it is useless. I for one, don`t want to join anywhere in Europe. It`d be much better if we have something like NAFTA with other Turkic nations and maybe with Russia.
Anyways, the question is about Israel and I don`t have an idea. But I think EU needs to stop immediately about considering any other candidates and stay in Europe where they should have been in the first place.

 

Well, that's what they are doing. It's the Israeli on this thread that is advocating the EU go wider than that.

Personally, I am middle of the road on the EU. It is a good idea in conceptual terms and the basic principles of continental cooperation are worthy ones. The implementation of it, however, is more often than not fairly cack-handed.

Note today's exemptions for France and Germany on Euro financial constraint rules. Bet that wouldn't have happened if the two defaulters had been, say, Portugal and Ireland.

 

Of course Europeans don't like Jews.
If they did, there'd be no such thing as Israel.

 

I'm entirely neutral toward Jews, does that count?

 

Good thing you said that Matt, now I'll be sure to get you out of the next war that we Jews fight while using other people. (That Malaysian fella was on to something.) You may also keep your house - my bank won't repossess it. Jews can be neutral towards Liverpudlians too

But on a serious note, this will never happen. Not because Europeans don't like Jews (although quite a few don't), but because there is absolutely no advantage to the EU. Israel is not a trading partner, and many European countries don't want to anger the Arabs any more than they have to, like France (oddly enough the place where Jews are least liked these days.......) Allowing Israel into the EU will just make all those Arab countries yell at Europe. There's just no point.

 

Actually, it is. Per capita imports from the EU are over $1800. By this measure, Israel is one of Europe's biggest customers.

There's no scenario where Israel joins the EU prior to a peace settlement. At least one Arab country would join at the same time. Still, it seems like a bad move for both sides. The EU would be crazy to admit Israel and potentially have to deal with a whole mess of nasty issues. Israel would be nuts to risk its sovereignty since it already enjoys the benefits of economic cooperation with Europe.

 

It might be usefull to point out that expansion of the EU is almost entirely politically motivated. Outside the original members + UK and the scandinavian countries all new members were economical disadvantages when they were accepted. Spain, Portugal and Greece had just recently freed themselves from fascist dictatorships. Getting them inside was important to strengthen democracy. Same thing goes for the eastern european countries that will join next year. It will cost an arm and a leg, but the political arguments are stronger. In the long run some of these countries will grow to give a positive contribution to EU:s economy (Spain already has), but some never will.

Turkey is in an age-long conflict with Greece and has a young and shaky democracy. That is a threat to european stability which we most probably will solve better with Turkey inside EU. There are also large turkish minorities in many european countries. They would gain the same rights as other citizens if Turkey became member.

Making Israel a member on the other hand will not help solving any conflicts, but instead making EU part of a conflict where they today have the advantage of being neutral. This will never happen.

 

http://www.yad-vashem.org.il/righteous/bycountry/denmark.html

Yes we Europeans (whatever that means) sure do not like the jews

 

So you know the opinion of 360+ million people about Jews? That's impressive...

 

Oh and BTW I like Jewish people, especially Jewish girls...

And some of them seem to like a Belgian Goy like me a lot too...

 

This thread is freakin' joke.

Russia will be part of the EU before Israel.
Hell, Switzerland will be part of the EU before Israel...

 

The question of "is Isreal European ?" Is becoming irrelevant given the fact that they are letting countries like Cyprus and Malta (which are less European) into the EU.

What's really blocking Turkish entry is the traditional EU paranoia from France and Germany.

 

Cyprus and Malta are less European in what sense?
Do you know any history?

What is blocking Turkeys entry is: Human rights record, the turkish Economy and last but not least that they have a population of 70 million which is rapidly growing. You can call it paranoia all you want but France and Germany is not alone with this "paranoia"