European Union leaders want to acknowledge that probably the most urgent problem they face is home – not disagreements with Israel, Jacob Nagel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s former nationwide safety adviser, informed Euronews.
His feedback got here amid tense relations between the EU and Israel. Earlier this month, Israeli International Minister Gideon Saar reduce off all contact with Israeli overseas coverage chief Kaja Karas over an alleged comparability of Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.
In the meantime, the European Fee is below stress from some member states to suggest a variety of choices to limit EU commerce with unlawful Israeli settlements within the occupied Palestinian territories.
“Ultimately the EU international locations will come to their senses and perceive who’s the great man and who’s the unhealthy man,” Nagel, who has labored for greater than 40 years in Israel’s Ministry of Protection and the Prime Minister’s Workplace and is now a senior fellow on the Basis for Protection of Democracies (FDD), informed Euronews. 12 minutes.
He insisted that the EU was “irrelevant” despite the fact that it stays Israel’s largest buying and selling associate, repeating a press release Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to Euronews final yr.
Nagel went on to say that the EU and its leaders ought to deal with different, extra urgent points.
“Have a look at some international locations inside Europe, I do not wish to title names, however in case you go to the streets, there’s terrorism,” he stated.
“Some European international locations have understood this and have taken their destiny into their very own arms, however some have already misplaced the battle in opposition to immigration. I feel Europe faces an enormous drawback to unravel. The issue is just not Israel.”
America “stays our greatest buddy”
Requested if relations between america and Israel have been strained not too long ago over Israeli navy operations in Lebanon, Nagel acknowledged there could have been some stress, however insisted, “Israel and america are our greatest allies. They’re our greatest mates.”
On the Israeli aspect, Prime Minister Netanyahu prevented direct public criticism, however some authorities and opposition officers criticized the US authorities for clearly sidelining Israel within the memorandum of ceasefire (MoU) between the US and Iran signed on June 17, and for dragging the Jewish state out of the battle earlier than reaching its aims.
On the US aspect, President Trump reportedly berated Netanyahu in early June after Israel threatened to renew airstrikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs, jeopardizing then-ongoing talks with Iran.
Later, Vice President J.D. Vance stated Israel was remoted on the worldwide stage and stated Trump was Israel’s solely remaining ally on the planet.
Whereas stressing that he understands President Trump’s causes for participating with Iran, Nagel stated that the president is nonetheless “making a mistake” by prioritizing home pursuits, particularly the economic system, which is the first concern of American voters, over securing a extra favorable deal to finish the Iranian battle and stopping the Islamic Republic from in the end buying a nuclear bomb.
“Iran is now getting precisely what it desires and wishes,” he stated, pointing to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a short lived exemption for Iranian oil exports, and stated Iran would obtain direct, conventional money funds no less than by means of the 60-day negotiation interval stipulated within the memorandum.
Specialists estimate that promoting the oil legally may generate round $8 billion (about 7 billion euros) within the first 60 days alone.
“Trump is now listening to his high aides like Vice President J.D. Vance,[Steve]Witkoff and[Jared]Kushner, and never listening to[Secretary of Defense Pete]Hegseth and Secretary of State[Marco]Rubio. And he has determined to place American pursuits first. He desires to decrease oil costs.”
Each Mr. Hegseth and Mr. Rubio have advocated a extra hawkish line on Iran to restrict Iran’s energy and make sure the safety of america and its allies, together with Israel.
However Nagel acknowledged that President Trump’s push to advertise “America First” and deal with reducing oil costs is “justified” given the November midterm elections and rising considerations throughout the Republican Celebration in regards to the Democratic takeover of Congress.
“Folks in america do not know the place Iran is, they do not know the place Israel is, they do not know what enriched uranium is. They simply understand how a lot they pay for a gallon of oil after they go to the gasoline station,” he stated.
“We very a lot need america to be with us, however generally america has its personal pursuits,” Nagel stated, including that this was only a non permanent change in angle.
“The USA will come to its senses quickly. We are going to work with america. Ultimately america will perceive who the Iranians are and can come again to see if the work is completed.”
