Israel demands more balanced EU approach to Middle East

ISRAEL called on Europe to adopt a more balanced approach to the Middle East during a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels yesterday.

Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom, taking an unusually conciliatory approach towards the European Union, praised its role in the Road Map peace plan. However, he said the time had come for the EU to change its approach to Israel and one way of doing this was for Europe to stop voting against it in the United Nations.

The EU is very supportive of the Palestinians and is the main donor paying for the upkeep of much of the bankrupt state’s infrastructure including hospitals and schools.