Money or Your life

The EU's Javier Solana has a way of making a point. He likes to grab hold of someone with one hand and point his finger at them with the other. In the above picture, we see him employing this technique with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom. I've also seen a picture where he did the same to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

I can't help but think of that old line in the movies when the bad guy pulls a gun and says, "It's your money or your life." In the above picture, I'm willing to bet the point Solana is making is somewhat the same. He's saying something like, "It's your agreement on this issue or your political future."

The bottom line in Shalom's case is, Solana wants an end to the Israeli/Palestinian dispute. And, he wants it now. Yasser Arafat is out of the way, the Palestinian election went smoothly and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is sharing power with Solana's old friend and fellow socialist, Shimon Peres.

In fact, it was Peres who signed Israel on to Solana's Euro-Mediterranean Partnership back in November of 1995. So, Peres is someone with whom Solana can work.

Yet, when I place all these events together, I'm left with the feeling something more is going on here. I suspect some kind of deal has already been struck. It's just not being made public yet.

For example, consider the Palestinian election. No one expected it to go so smoothly. But, it did. And, the idea Sharon would join political forces with Peres at this moment in history speaks loudly. I think something big is in the works.

One more thing: Solana is hanging around the Middle East now like a kid awaiting his order in a candy store. It's his European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). I think it's paying off.

It's peace or no ENP.