Before I dismiss this ridiculous carrot without further consideration, maybe it is worth investigating a little further. With that in mind, can a representative of the EU please answer a few questions:
- What precisely would this potential new friendship look like?
- Would it include all citizens of the EU or just the ones who are already quasi-tolerant of Jews?
- Would it end thousands of years of systemic anti-Semitism dating back to at least 400 CE?
- Would you stop doing business with the Arab theocracies and monarchies that threaten our existence every week?
- Would your member states continue to sell weapons and military expertise to our enemies?
- Would you make a bold diplomatic statement that bombings of synagogues and people in the midst of prayer is unacceptable -- whether it happens in Europe or Israel?
- Would Jews be able to walk to synagogue without fear of being stabbed to death?
- Would Jewish children get to school in one piece without subtle, state-approved bullying?
- Would you make tough decisions about your rabidly anti-Semitic Islamic militant citizens?
- Would you finally get rid of the rest of those Islamic militants who live in your midst illegally or as perpetual social takers (and not givers)?
- Would Israel get points from you for trying to live peacefully regardless of the bullies surrounding its borders?
- Would you like us better if we were slimmer; you know, the pre-1967 lines when we were younger?
- Would we only stay friends if we did things your way?
- Would we be able to boycott your goods and services if you do something we don't like or is this just a one-way friendship?
- Would it be a real friendship where we have each other's backs or would you just continue being the two-faced political union you have always been?
- Could we speak honestly to each other?
If you answer "no" to two or more of these questions, then I think the best thing to do is go to a dictionary -- Oxford, if you prefer -- and check the meaning of friendship. Here, let me save you some time. Friendship -- in terms of nation states -- is:
Oh right, it's all coming back to you now. You don't want to be friends; you want to be a player like the big boys in Washington. Guess what, they aren't such smart big shots there and your intentions are totally transparent. I think the more appropriate word that you are looking for is "frenemies" and thanks but we have more than enough of those right now. We also have bigger problems than false friends like you. You may have heard but roving Muslims who live in our country are on a murderous rampage and no one within the borders of our legal nation state is safe right now. You probably hadn't noticed or you would have surely voiced a little concern for innocent citizens, going about their business in their own country, being in such haphazard danger.
Oh, I guess that would ruffle the feathers of your other friends.
In case I have totally misread the situation European Union and in fact your intentions are genuine, I have a final question for you: with friends like you, who needs enemies?
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