Is this good cop bad cop? Or, did President Bush really come down on Israel's side?

As you may recall, when Bush declared his support for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza pull-out plan, the Arab world saw it as Washington siding with Israel. And evidently, so did most of the international community.

Immediately after Bush's announcement, Javier Solana paid a visit to Washington. According to this report, Solana told Secretary of State Colin Powell the EU demanded a greater role in what's coming down in the Middle East Read about it here.

The report goes on to say the EU leaders have decided it is time to get tough with Israel. In other words, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership -- the lucrative free trade agreement Solana negotiated with Israel back in 1995 -- will now be used as a weapon. If Israel doesn't submit to Solana's wishes, the EU's markets could be closed to Israel.

As I think about these developments, once again I ask myself: Is this good cop, bad cop? Is America playing the role of the good cop, while the EU is playing the bad cop?

But the bottom line is, it doesn't matter. The result will inevitably be the same. Israel is now going to be forced into allowing the EU a much bigger role in settling the Israeli/Palestinian dispute.

And, it's all because of a tasty little deal Solana negotiated with Israel back in 1995.

They should have known.