Italy's Prime Minister Wants Israel to Join the European Union

Teresa Neumann : Feb 4, 2010
Staff - Jerusalem Post

"As long as I am one of the shapers of politics, my greatest dream is to include Israel among the European Union countries."

(Jerusalem, Israel)—The Jerusalem Post reports that visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced he would like to see Israel become a member of the European Union (EU).

"We consider Israel one of the European countries," Berlusconi said at a reception, and "as long as I am one of the shapers of politics, my greatest dream is to include Israel among the European Union countries."

"We would like to look to the future together and [to] ensure that future is one of well-being, prosperity and, first and foremost, peace for our peoples," he added. "And to your people, who even today sees its existence questioned by those against whom we, the international community, stand opposed—we will act to ensure that this never happens...We are here to show our recognition and our pride in the fact that we are part of a Judeo-Christian culture that is the basis for European culture."

In appreciation, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu replied: "One hundred years ago, when the state visionary, Theodore Herzl… was asked about the prospects for a future Jewish state in such a dangerous region, he said that the fate of the Jewish state would ultimately be linked to the fate of the West. Well, I can think of few peoples who have contributed more to Western civilization than our two peoples. In both Rome and in Jerusalem, the foundations of Western culture were laid. That is why it is vital that Italy and Israel stand side by side, proud of our heritage, committed to our values, and determined to defend our future and our culture."

According to the report, diplomatic officials say that the chances of Israel gaining admission into the EU are slim, and that it is not even clear this is something Jerusalem desires.

On a side note, Berlusconi also was said to have toured the Yad Vashem museum where he said it felt like "being hit in the stomach."