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Anshel Pfeffer

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Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

Analysis

Why Israel wants Britain to stay firmly inside the EU

March 3, 2016 10:34
1 min read

The Israeli government, unlike the Obama administration and the member states of the European Union, is extremely unlikely to express an official position on Britain's European referendum.

But off-record conversations with senior Israeli officials make the unofficial position clear: Israel would like to see the UK remaining firmly in.

The issue is not that the EU is any more popular in Israel than it is in Britain. Although not an EU member, Israelis see Brussels and its Eurocrats as interfering busybodies, forever trying to meddle in its internal politics and the conflict with the Palestinians.

The EU guidelines issued last year on labelling settlement products led to Israel suspending its engagement with the bloc on the Palestinian issue. The talks freeze was lifted a few weeks ago, but the issue still rankles.

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