Israel Can No Longer Play EU for a Fool

As Brussels spokespeople have pointed out, the EU has always believed that settlements are illegal under international law. So there is nothing new in its insistence that no money should go to support these settlements. The issue has become more acute now that Ariel, one of the larger settlements on the West Bank, has a university. What is new is that the EU has found the courage to confront Israel and insist that it can no longer shroud its settlements in legal ambiguity. The measure could not have happened without a change in European attitudes to Israel. Germany, the most careful not to offend Israel, does not disguise the fact that Chancellor Angela Merkel has lost all trust in Mr Netanyahu. The result is that the EU states are no longer willing to act as what the Israelis would call a freier - a sucker.