Ireland/Israel/EU: Israel said it expects relations with the European Union to be "less cosy" when Ireland takes over the rotating EU presidency in January than they have been under the current Italian presidency, which it considers its "best friend" in the EU.
Ireland's six months at the helm of the EU will give it a lead role in future efforts to revive the stalled so-called road map for peace in the Middle East drawn up by the EU, US, UN and Russia.
Ireland's initiative yesterday in tabling a motion against anti- Semitism at the UN has not dispelled the official view here that Ireland's policy on the Middle East is pro-Palestinian, a perception which also extends to common EU policy relating to the conflict.
"We don't know how much it [Ireland's EU presidency] would effect the overall position of the EU but the Irish position has been more challenging for us than almost any other member of the EU in the last year," an Israeli official said yesterday.
"But on the other hand, the Irish Government has gone out of its way to make sure that once it assumes the presidency it will not pursue its own bilateral policy vis-à-vis Israel but rather reflect the common EU position. Of course, we expect the Irish presidency to be less cosy for us than the Italian presidency."
Israel considers Italy its "best friend" in the EU and has enjoyed something of a honeymoon period with Mr Berlusconi. The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, lavished praise on Italy this week. "Since Berlusconi came to power, our bilateral ties improved. As president of the EU, Italy works on Israel's behalf in European and international forums, and has helped bring about an improvement in Israel's ties with the EU," he told a group of some 100 Italian Jewish leaders on Monday night, as the start of a three day trip.
Mr Berlusconi's government has used its position to offer diplomatic support for Israel, occasionally flouting EU policy in the process.
When he travelled to Israel last June, Mr Berlusconi pleased Mr Sharon's government by not visiting Mr Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority president. This move was seen as an endorsement of the Israeli government's controversial policy of boycotting visiting politicians who meet with Mr Arafat.
It also contrasts with the behaviour of Mr Cowen during his visit to Israel the same month. He was barred from meeting Israeli ministers because he insisted on meeting Mr Arafat, a gesture which Israel regarded as provocative.
However, it is the Berlusconi government's line which is at odds with the official EU policy of maintaining contacts with Mr Arafat.
And while Europe has consistently criticised the route of the controversial Israeli security fence which makes deep incursions into the Palestinian West Bank, Italy's deputy prime minister, Mr Gianfranco Fini, has expressed understanding for Israel's decision to build the barrier.