There’s been widespread condemnation of Israel since the attack on the flotilla bound for Gaza. It confirms many Israelis’ feeling of isolation. The US is Israel’s only friend and the country is otherwise being demonized.

Israel’s critics have pointed out for a long time that the US is the key to solving the conflict between Jews and Arabs. America must put pressure on Israel to compromise on a two-state solution. This must be based on the borders of 1967.

The focus on 1967 conveniently draws the focus away from a former époque in the history of Palestine/Israel, namely its founding. Many Arabs will not experience this type of division as being fair.

In their eyes, the injustice occurred both before, and in 1948 when the State of Israel was established. The Israeli’s know this well. If you steal your neighbour’s land, you can’t expect that either he or his heirs are satisfied with getting 30 percent back.

The founding of Israel was supported by Europe. It was a form of punishment. And the Palestinians had to pay the price. It’s therefore not just for the sake of an answer to the Middle East that Europeans really believe that a 1967-based two-state solution will lead to permanent peace. One’s own responsibility is also conveniently avoided when it’s put forward as a “solution”.

Israel is definitely pursuing a brutal and controversial policy. The criticism is justified. But increased pressure on Israel by the USA will cast despair over the Israelis’ future prospects. There’ll be increased migration away from Israel by Jews. It will primarily be the moderate and resourceful that will leave. The relative number of orthodox Jews and poor will increase.

That’s no good basis for moderation. A further radicalisation of Israel could have fatal consequences. The country has, after all, several hundred nuclear warheads. For now, it’s also in Europe’s interests that the US acknowledges its extraordinary relationship with Israel. In any case, a solution to the conflict in Palestine seems utopian.

The immediate challenge is to avoid an Israeli attack on Iran. We could risk that Israel uses tactical nuclear weapons to penetrate Iranian bunkers, given adequate pressure. Such desperate measures would really change the world.

First published by Dagbladet in Norwegian on 15 June 2010.

Read The Foreigner’s article here.