Three European capitals are slowly recovering from Premier Golda Meir’s recent whirlwind European tour. The presence of Socialist leaders from 18 countries in Paris while France is in the throes of a heated election campaign, a lively and sometimes bitter exchange with the Pope in Rome, and a suspense-laden luncheon with Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, all in the course of six days, have prompted observers here to term her voyage “shock diplomacy.”
As the smoke of passion and tempers slowly subsides, political observers in Europe are starting to analyze the consequences of the Israeli Premier’s trip. To most of these, the trip was a major attempt to break out of the increasing political and diplomatic isolation in which Israel finds herself. The more cynical among these observers bluntly say that “the world has never loved a winner” and that Israel’s uncontested victories in 1967 and her determination not to give up the fruits of victory, have deprived her of three basic fields of popular support: the Socialists, the Africans and the more liberal and humanitarian elements in the Christian world.
Slowly, but surely, Israel is seen as backed and sustained by a single country, the United States, which in the eyes of many European and African eyes is seen as the Vietnamese aggressor and the backer of the Greek and Portuguese regimes. It was apparently to break out of this gradually narrowing field of popular and even political support, that the Israeli Premier undertook her trip, dared risk French President Georges Pompidou’s wrath, a possible clash with the Pope, and a possible snub by Houphouet-Boigny.
Three capitals three attempts, three different results. In Paris, in the plush Luxemburg Palace, Mrs. Meir met with the leaders of Socialist Parties from 18 countries including four Prime Ministers. Most of Europe’s Socialist Parties can be divided into those like West Germany and Austria and even Britain, where Socialist policy has lost its ideological basis and coincides with national interests. On the other hand, some of the Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden and Denmark, aim at applying Socialist principles in international affairs.
DOGMA VS. FLEXIBILITY
While contact was immediately established with the Austrian, West German and British delegates, Mrs. Meir reportedly found herself somewhat at a loss when confronted with the dogmatic determination of the Scandinavians, Sweden’s Olaf Palme and Denmark’s Ankor Jorgensen. The first difficulties appeared on the day the conference opened, when the two Scandinavian Premiers called for the Socialist. International to openly and publicly condemn the U.S. for her continued bombing in North Vietnam and for responsibility in the breakdown of the Parts talks.
Mrs. Meir, while associating Israel with the general disapproval of the Vietnam war, stressed that the guilt was not “all one-sided” and asked the conference to wait for the talks to resume. History luckily proved her right, but her supple attitude on what the northern Socialists considered a “burning and vital Issue.” did not help to endear Israel to their hearts.
As for Franco-Israeli relations, Mrs. Meir managed to improve her ties with the Socialists but she openly antagonized the current Gaullist regime. As for the Socialists, friendly as they may be to Israel while in the opposition, their outlook may drastically change should they eventually form a government with the Communist Party.
HISTORY MADE IN ROME
The every-day drab aspect of the Socialist conference was rapidly overshadowed by Mrs. Meir’s trip to Rome: for the first time in a long, complex, and often inimical history, the Premier of the Jewish State was being received by the head of the Catholic Church.
All those who stood in St. Peter’s Square, overshadowed by the huge statues of the 140 Saints who look down from the cathedral wall, felt they were living a historic moment as Mrs. Meir, in a small round fur hat, drove across the Vatican border. Two Swiss guards stood at attention, raising their 16th century haldebardes as the Israelis drove through the Santa Lucia gate. On the second floor of the Papal Palace, a red three-story palacio of typical Roman design, the Pope was waiting. His first word was in Hebrew: “Shalom,” his first gesture a blessing and a present, a small white porcelain dove representing eternal peace.
The shock came, however, a few minutes after the end of the audience when Vatican spokesman Prof. Frederico Allessandrini issued a written “verbal” statement saying “nothing has changed in the Vatican’s relations with Israel and there is no ground for such a change.”
In spite of the Vatican statement and its special insistence on “the most helpless and destitute among human beings–the refugees from Palestine.” Mrs. Meir’s meeting with the Pope is considered by observers here as an important success for Israel–not because of what was said or its tangible results but because the meeting had actually taken place. Throughout the Roman Catholic world, whether in Europe, Africa or Latin America, 630 million Catholics can only interpret this meeting, and probably rightly so, as a de facto recognition of Israel by the Vatican and a fundamental change in Catholic-Jewish relations.
IMPACT ON MEIR-NIXON TALKS
The end of Mrs. Meir’s six-day tour came in Geneva, with an old and trusted friend, Houphouet-Boigny. The meeting was considered by Israeli circles as of the utmost importance. In spite of Israel’s technical, diplomatic and financial efforts in Africa, five countries (Uganda, Chad, Mali, Congo-Brazzaville and Niger)-had broken off diplomatic relations during the last few months.
Many diplomats and observers believed that Libya’s money and pressure were not sufficient to explain this process which, were it to spread, could isolate Israel from a large sector of the Third World. Houphouet-Boigny, as President of Africa’s richest and stablest country, enjoys a unique prestige amongst the continent’s leaders. A meeting between him and the Israeli Premier could serve to put matters right and stop what could turn-out to be a general trend.
Geneva too, proved, however, laden with suspense, Minutes before the meeting, Ivory Coast officials including the Ambassador himself, continued to deny that the meeting would be hold. It took place and lasted three-and-a-half hours, but all concerned at Houphouet at Houphouet-Boigny’s insistence, tried to give it a personal and private character. The African President has reportedly promised to try and help Israel in his “personal capacity.” Will he succeed? This is the question many ask but practically no one can answer. In one month’s time, Mrs. Meir will be in Washington and the public relations attempts in Europe will be forgotten while the concrete is sues of arms, frontiers and negotiations will be examined. Positive effects of the six-day European tour may, however, finally affect these talks too.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
