Israelis Weigh Pros and Cons of a Potential “Brexit” From the EU
As British voters decide Thursday on whether the United Kingdom is to remain in the European Union, Israelis have taken the opportunity to express what they feel are the potential positives or negative aspects of a possible exit from the EU.
“We call on everyone that supports Israel to ‘vote leave’ and deal a major blow to this mammoth bureaucracy that has an unhealthy obsession with Israel,” said Ari Briggs, spokesman for the Israeli organization Regavim.
The Regavim organization, whose mission is “to ensure responsible, legal and accountable use of Israel’s national lands,” has challenged continued EU illegal construction in Judea and Samaria for a considerable period of time. The organization helped launch and sponsor a campaign by pro-Israel expats from Britain to convince British voters to vote for a “Brexit,” or a British exit from the European Union.
“We haven’t been able to have an impact on the EU meddling in our affairs so we had to to take it to them,” explained Briggs to Tazpit Press Service (TPS). “All the funding for illegal building in Area C of Judea and Samaria is coming from the EU.”
Briggs and his organization are frustrated that they have been unable to achieve any significant results in bringing about a cessation to the continued illegal construction by the EU.
“We’ve gone to the courts and they have said that the EU has diplomatic immunity,” Briggs elaborated to TPS. “We have sent letters, asked EU representatives to speak with us, and written newspaper articles and exposés throughout Europe. We have even had hearings held within the European Parliament and nothing has worked.”
Regavim aimed in its campaign to explain how continued illegal construction by the EU in Judea and Samaria was in fact also a British issue.
“We saw the opportunity of a Brexit where Britons have the ability to vote on whether to stay or leave the EU as an opportunity to have our voice heard,” Briggs said to TPS. “When they understand the damage that the European Union is doing with the hard-earned tax pounds of British citizens, it could potentially influence how British people will vote.”
Former Israeli Ambassador to the UK Dror Zeigerman challenged the claim that a Brexit would serve Israel’s interests.
“I would like to stress that Israel is not part of this decision and it is not an Israeli matter,” the former ambassador told TPS. “But I think if we should say anything at all, it is that it would probably be better for Israel that the UK stay in the EU.” Zeigerman’s opinion is based on his assertion that the UK’s strong friendship with Israel serves to help Israel in its relationship with the rest of Europe.
“We need the UK to be part of Europe because we do not have many close friends there,” Zeigerman argued to TPS. “The current UK government is friendly to Israel and it is better that they have influence within the EU.”
“If we need someone to give us support on an important issue, we can rely on Great Britain and on Prime Minister Cameron in particular,” continued Zeigerman. “So I think we would lose a great friend in the EU if the UK left.”
Zeigerman’s remarks echoed statements by Prime Minister David Cameron made earlier this week. Speaking at a fundraising dinner for the Jewish Care welfare organization, Cameron asked, “Do you want Britain, Israel’s greatest friend, in there opposing boycotts, opposing the campaign for divestment and sanctions, or do you want us outside the room, powerless to effect the discussion that takes place?”
Regavim flatly dismissed the arguments made by Prime Minister Cameron and Ambassador Zeigerman.
“Brussels does what its wants including spending hundreds of millions to harm Israel, irrespective of Westminster,” Briggs remarked to TPS. “It’s time that Jews hit back against the EU’s anti-Israel policies. A Brexit will mean a smaller EU budget to harm israel.”
Meanwhile, senior Israeli officials have abstained from taking any official position on the Brexit referendum.