On July 5, the European Parliament heavily criticized the State of Israel for taking military action in Gaza, with some parliamentarians even suggested that Israel has violated international law. Here are a few of the more revealing statements (emphasis ours throughout):

• “A state that acts like this is no different from a terrorist organization. We have to say: enough—you have gone mad.” – Veronique De Keyser, Belgian member of the European Parliament and former head of the European Union’s Gaza election monitoring mission.

• “Time has come for the international community to oblige Israel to stop the unacceptable and horrible crimes that are committed every day on Palestinian territory.” – Cypriot M.P. and chairman of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council.

• “The Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip and the destruction of civilian infrastructure there punishes Palestinians collectively and puts civilian lives at risk. And I must say, it does raise questions of international law.” – Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU external relations commissioner.

• “The double standards are rank. We make the Palestinians jump through hoops but we let the Israeli get away with bloody murder.” – Chris Davies, British liberal.

German Foreign Affairs Committee chief Elmar Bork said, “It’s really hard to say who is right and who is wrong in this circle of violence” (emphasis ours). The same day, Time columnist Charles Krauthammer attacked this “cycle of violence” fallacy. He observed that this current situation in Gaza, unlike a circle, has a clearly identifiable beginning, less than a year old: Israel’s complete and unconditional evacuation. The Palestinians responded with rocket attacks from Gaza, beginning on the very day of the Israeli withdrawal. Israel’s evacuation offered no solution and gave the Palestinians a new staging ground for violence.

The Palestinian government, led by the terrorist group Hamas, is committed to Israel’s destruction. Now, as Hamas carries out its most overt actions—kidnapping an Israeli soldier and launching rockets at Israeli civilians from territory given to them by the Israelis—more extreme European politicians turn their condemnation on Israel for defending itself while the moderate voices proclaim a “circle of violence” with no clear villain.

If it is wrong for the citizens of Israel to believe they have a right to exist, then perhaps it is “hard to say who is right and who is wrong.” But if Israel’s continued survival is justifiable, then the Palestinian position is undeniably wrong! To better understand how the Israeli state went from a widely acknowledged hero status, following its overwhelming victory in the Six Days’ War of 1967, to the perceived state of a global pariah, please read “From Hero to Outcast” in the May 2006 Trumpet.

At times, Europe has tried to present itself as an objective observer of Middle Eastern affairs, uniquely qualified to fairly mediate a solution to the Arab-Jew conflict. Evidence suggests that it has succeeded even in convincing many prominent Jewish leaders of this notion. Given Europe’s strong need to secure oil sources, and its designs on the long-term status of Jerusalem, we can expect its efforts to get a foothold in the Middle East to continue, even if it means cozying up to the Jews.

However, vitriolic and unbalanced comments such as those expressed in the European Parliament this past week reveal the Continent’s true colors, and should not be forgotten.