Diplomatic showdown between Israel and the UK
Palestine-Israel, International, 3/17/1998

British officials who dare to express a certain form of identification with the Palestinian cause are not allowed to enjoy a free dinner in Israel. This message was basically what came out of the meeting on Tuesday night between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who is also the duty chairman of the European Community.

In the course of the meeting, which followed a controversial visit by Cook to the site of the new Jewish settlement of Har Homa on Jabal Abu Ghaneim in East Jerusalem, a decision was made by the prime minister to cancel a joint dinner he was supposed to have with his guest. The cancellation illustrated how tough the atmosphere was in which the two met in the evening.

Israel could not hide its discontent at the fact that Cook had taken such an open stand against Jewish settlement activities and at the fact that he decided to meet with PLO Executive committee member Faisal Husseini, in a college building just across the street from the Orient House, the self-declared headquarters of the PLO in East Jerusalem. Husseini, who holds the Jerusalem file in the Palestinian National Authority headed a Palestinian delegation that met with Cook and explained to him a number of Israeli measures and policies in the city. They all stressed that Israel is trying to undermine any future agreement on the city of Jerusalem, the question of which is left to the final status negotiations between the two parties.

But it was Cook's visit to Jabal Abu Ghaneim that triggered Israel's anger. Cook met with Palestinian Legislative Council member Salah Ta'mari in area only a few meters away from the site of the planned Jewish settlement. "We do not understand how a handshake with Ta'mari could cause such an outcry by the Israeli government," British sources in Cook's entourage said. But it seems not only the handshake with Ta'mari but also the warm hug that Cook gave to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat earlier in the day in Gaza was another gesture that upset the Israeli prime minister. Speaking in joint press conference with Arafat, Cook said there is anxiety among the EU members over Israel's settlement policy.

Israel is said to be angry over the fact that due to Cook's visit, Jerusalem has returned to top of the political agenda in the region. Netanyahu reportedly told his guest that right after their meeting he would call British Foreign Minister Tony Blair and convey to him his anger over the behavior of his foreign secretary. "Netanyahu will yet tell Blair that he is mostly welcomed to visit Israel next month but will make it clear that the British approach as portrayed by Cook is totally unacceptable to Israel," sources said.

After the meeting, which lasted for one hour, Cook came out of the hall and as he saw camera crews, pulled aside and consulted his aides who were briefed him on Israeli media reports about how angry the Israeli government was at his visit. He then told Israel state-run television that he "came to the region to help the peace process and one of the obstacles to the peace process is the expansion of the settlement." He added that his country and the US Administration have agreed on the need to have a time out in Jewish settlement activities and that the Israeli government was informed in advance of his intention to visit Jabal Abu Ghaneim.

Previous Stories:
  Is Israel a pariah nation?   (3/17/1998)
  Europe to consider the economic stick, Cook said   (3/17/1998)
  European Union peace plan for Palestine disclosed   (3/13/1998)

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