Israel's reputation deteriorating

2004-10-13 21:43

Jerusalem - Israel's international standing is likely to deteriorate in the coming years and its reputation could soon rival that of South Africa's former apartheid regime, Israeli army radio reported on Wednesday, citing a secret foreign ministry report.

The document warned that if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues, Israel was likely to find itself on collision course with the European Union.

Worse still, Israel could lose its international legitimacy and even find itself ostracised in the way South Africa was during the apartheid years, the radio said, quoting the document.

The ministry refused to comment on the report.

Israeli justice minister Joseph Lapid raised similar fears in January, warning that Israel could face an international boycott over its controversial West Bank separation barrier similar to that faced by South Africa during apartheid.

The report warned that if Israel continued to ignore and neglect its ties with Europe, there could be serious political and economic implications for the Jewish state, with a danger that Europe could use its economic leverage to exert pressure.

Even beyond Europe, the report painted a gloomy picture, predicting that Russia and Asian states were likely to build closer ties to the Arab world at the expense of Israel.

Concerns were also raised that Moscow could exert pressure on Israel over its nuclear programme.

Israel has persistently refused to confirm or deny it has a nuclear arsenal but is estimated to possess some 200 warheads.

The report was given to foreign minister Silvan Shalom and to Ron Prosor, director of the ministry, the radio said.

- AFP