International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, November 03, 2003

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was anxious to downplay a new European Commission poll, due to be published Monday, ranking Israel as "the greatest danger to world peace," even as EU critics charged that the results presented positive proof of latent European anti-Semitism.

Shalom said the poll leaked over the weekend to the Spanish daily El Pais, reflects the over exposure of Israel in European media and was countered by another poll last month which showed signs of improvement in Israel’s tattered image.

"One need not dramatize every poll," Shalom told Ha’aretz, before insisting that Europe is "not a lost cause." The results could have as much to do with EU efforts to position itself as a counterweight to the US than being simply "anti-Israel or pro-Palestinian," he argued.

The poll showed that 59% percent of Europeans believe that Israel is a greater threat to world peace than North Korea, Iran, or Afghanistan. According to diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, this could serve as a "red light" for Europe's leaders.

Speaking to Ha’aretz a senior diplomatic official argued that if - to the European mind - democratic Israel poses a greater threat than terrorist supporting dictatorial states with weapons of mass destruction then "there is a serious problem about the picture the average European is receiving."

The Simon Wiesenthal Center released a statement saying that if the results of the survey are as reported, "Israel should draw the only conclusion possible -- that the European Union and its members should play no role in any future peace process."

Shalom rejected the Wiesenthal center’s criticism outright, calling for a more constructive Israeli engagement with Europe. Nevertheless, his conciliatory tone disguised the fears expressed by his officials who believe the poll could be the beginning of a hardening EU attitude -- more in line with popular views.

In fact, according to one official, the survey was most likely commissioned by those in Brussels interested in testing the water regarding a tougher stance on Israel.