Czechs, Panama, Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, and Micronesia bare their teeth

PRAGUE (Reuters) - When Czechs cast the lone European "no" vote against the Palestinian Authority's bid for semi-statehood at the United Nations this week, it was no surprise from a country Israel has named as its best friend on the continent.

Once the punchbag for aggressive neighbours before World War Two, the central European state of 10.5 million has long backed the Jewish state and its main ally, the United States.

On Thursday, the Czechs joined Israel, the United States and six other nations in voting against a motion to grant the Palestinian Authority observer status at the United States as a "non-member state". Of the 138 "yes" votes, 14 came from European Union states, while the other 41 abstained.

A main reason is a centre-right government that has distanced itself from the European mainstream on issues ranging from diplomacy and security to economic policy, often siding with Washington rather than fellow EU members.

But history also plays a role. Israel can thank the former Czechoslovakia for gaining the upper hand in the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, when Prague broke a U.N. embargo to send it weapons, including 80 planes, and train pilots including future Israeli President Ezer Weizman, tipping the balance.

"Israel has no better friend in Europe than the Czech Republic", Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Prague in May of this year.

At the time, his Czech counterpart Petr Necas related Israel's situation to that of former Czechoslovakia, which lost land to Germany, Poland and Hungary on the eve of World War Two.

"We've got a special feeling for Israel's situation - that of a small nation surrounded by enemies," Necas told the Jerusalem Post.

Pundits say the government's pro-Israeli stance could also be a reaction to its trying to undo the legacy of a Czech Communist regime that severed diplomatic ties with the Jewish state after the 1967 Israel-Arab Six-Day War.

The Communists also later supported the Palestinian Liberation Organisation when it was in open conflict with Israel, training its operatives and awarding its leader Yasser Arafat the highest state medal.

That ended with the fall of the Iron Curtain, and in 1990, Prague restored diplomatic ties and then Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel visited Israel on one of his first foreign trips.

CLOSER TO US THAN EU

During the fighting between Israel and Hamas this month in the Gaza Strip, the Czech Foreign Ministry joined other European countries calling for an end to the violence.

But it underlined it "fully recognised Israel's right to self-defence against rocket barrages carried out by the military organisations in the Gaza strip", a sentiment absent from statements from the French and British but one closely resembling comments from U.S. officials.

On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the Czech Republic voted against the Palestinian motion because it feared it may further delay peace talks and said a two-state solution was only possible via direct negotiations, again echoing the U.S. stance.

Prague's support for the Jewish state also reflects an ongoing push by Czech centre-right politicians to build stronger ties with Washington and the euro-sceptic tendency of the two main ruling parties, Necas's Civic Democrats and Top 09.

"There is no common EU position ... I think it will definitely complicate future negotiations," said Civic Democrat lawmaker and presidential candidate Premysl Sobotka.

The opposition Social Democrats take a more mainstream European approach, while, partly staffed by dissidents who opposed the Communists in the Cold War era, the centre-right lobbied hard last decade for the establishment of a U.S. radar base and staunchly supported the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The opposition said the U.N. vote would isolate the Czechs.

"The Social Democrats would never allow such a departure from the balanced policy approach and from European policy," said Lubomir Zaoralek, deputy chairman of the Social Democrats.

"I regard it as a mistake ... It shows the Czech Republic is travelling its own road and does not care about European policy."

(Writing by Michael Winfrey; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.as...OPTT_0_UK-CZECH-PALESTINIANS&sec=Worldupdates

 

Oh I doubt it very much, perhaps due to the fiscal collapse of the EU, certainly not due to their vote in the UN. Not that many people are as obsessed with Jews and Israel as you and moon are and you don't have a job and consequently money to travel anyway Meanwhile I am switching to Czech beer

 

PRAGUE (Reuters) - When Czechs cast the lone European "no" vote against the Palestinian Authority's bid for semi-statehood at the United Nations this week, it was no surprise from a country Israel has named as its best friend on the continent.

Once the punchbag for aggressive neighbours before World War Two, the central European state of 10.5 million has long backed the Jewish state and its main ally, the United States.

On Thursday, the Czechs joined Israel, the United States and six other nations in voting against a motion to grant the Palestinian Authority observer status at the United States as a "non-member state". Of the 138 "yes" votes, 14 came from European Union states, while the other 41 abstained.

A main reason is a centre-right government that has distanced itself from the European mainstream on issues ranging from diplomacy and security to economic policy, often siding with Washington rather than fellow EU members.

But history also plays a role. Israel can thank the former Czechoslovakia for gaining the upper hand in the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, when Prague broke a U.N. embargo to send it weapons, including 80 planes, and train pilots including future Israeli President Ezer Weizman, tipping the balance.

"Israel has no better friend in Europe than the Czech Republic", Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Prague in May of this year.

At the time, his Czech counterpart Petr Necas related Israel's situation to that of former Czechoslovakia, which lost land to Germany, Poland and Hungary on the eve of World War Two.

"We've got a special feeling for Israel's situation - that of a small nation surrounded by enemies," Necas told the Jerusalem Post.

Pundits say the government's pro-Israeli stance could also be a reaction to its trying to undo the legacy of a Czech Communist regime that severed diplomatic ties with the Jewish state after the 1967 Israel-Arab Six-Day War.

The Communists also later supported the Palestinian Liberation Organisation when it was in open conflict with Israel, training its operatives and awarding its leader Yasser Arafat the highest state medal.

That ended with the fall of the Iron Curtain, and in 1990, Prague restored diplomatic ties and then Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel visited Israel on one of his first foreign trips.

CLOSER TO US THAN EU

During the fighting between Israel and Hamas this month in the Gaza Strip, the Czech Foreign Ministry joined other European countries calling for an end to the violence.

But it underlined it "fully recognised Israel's right to self-defence against rocket barrages carried out by the military organisations in the Gaza strip", a sentiment absent from statements from the French and British but one closely resembling comments from U.S. officials.

On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the Czech Republic voted against the Palestinian motion because it feared it may further delay peace talks and said a two-state solution was only possible via direct negotiations, again echoing the U.S. stance.

Prague's support for the Jewish state also reflects an ongoing push by Czech centre-right politicians to build stronger ties with Washington and the euro-sceptic tendency of the two main ruling parties, Necas's Civic Democrats and Top 09.

"There is no common EU position ... I think it will definitely complicate future negotiations," said Civic Democrat lawmaker and presidential candidate Premysl Sobotka.

The opposition Social Democrats take a more mainstream European approach, while, partly staffed by dissidents who opposed the Communists in the Cold War era, the centre-right lobbied hard last decade for the establishment of a U.S. radar base and staunchly supported the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The opposition said the U.N. vote would isolate the Czechs.

"The Social Democrats would never allow such a departure from the balanced policy approach and from European policy," said Lubomir Zaoralek, deputy chairman of the Social Democrats.

"I regard it as a mistake ... It shows the Czech Republic is travelling its own road and does not care about European policy."

(Writing by Michael Winfrey; Editing by Jon Hemming)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

 

Aside from the traitors in Prague, what do we know of these other world giants?

Nauru.

With 9,378 residents, it is the second least-populated country after Vatican City.


Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest.


officially the Republic of Palau (Palauan: Beluu ęr a Belau), is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. Geographically part of the larger island group of Micronesia, with the country's population of around 21,000 people spread out over 250 islands forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau

Hmm...regionally curious, no?

 

Agreed. The proper Budvar, not the Budweiser muck from the US, is wonderful.

 

Thanks for that.

I visited Prague, and liked the city.

I would not go again now, for me, to spend there, would be to spend in Israel.

I am sure I will not be alone in this.

 

Yeah.

The US stuff is fizz.

Crap.

Was there not some issue re the name, at one point?

 

Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence...Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009[SUP][update][/SUP]. In 2011, Prague was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague

 

That's the very beer I was thinking of!

 

so its more about local politic than about Zionism and Palestrina....

 

I went there soon after the Berlin Wall fell. It was the most amazing city I'd visited - vibrant and exciting. I would never go again.

 

So?

I bet it has a knock on to their tourist trade.

If it were down to me, I would isolate it from all inter European trade.

 

So?

I bet it has a knock on to their tourist trade.

If it were down to me, I would isolate it from all inter European trade.

 

Even leaving ethics aside, this is going to turn out to be a car crash decision, by them. I bet they wish the votes were secret!!

It will be a huge OG to their tourist trade imo, I can see that getting picked up on, and various groups now using that as a legit means to persuade others not to visit, and spend their money there.

Also, in the eyes of like, the rest of the World, but esp Europe, they stick out like the guy that turned up to a fancy dress party, and he was the only one dressed up.

 

All of the other tiny little places appear to be part of one region, why is this..?

Is it a place in which some Jews store their money or something?

 

I'm not sure that enough people hate Jews like you do to effect the tourist trade.

 

LOL, wishful thinking much? The tourist industry is growing even in Israel, the BDS movement is the laughingstock of the planet (and the supporters of Israel) and you are entertaining the idea that people (99% of whom don't give a flying f*ck about both Palestine and Israel) will refuse to see arguably the most charming city in Europe or turn down incredible spa treatement at Karlovy Vary over some stupid symbolic vote at the UN? LOL I knew you Islamofascists were delusional but you are in far worse shape that I thought you were.

In fact come to think about it the vote put the country on the north american radar - more pro-Israel americans, canadians and Israelis will choose to travel to Czech republic than islamofascists who will choose not to.

 

Well, we shall see, but if hating Jews = hating theft, lies, murder, then sure, I am a Jew hater, and proud to be called that today, since I find it something usually used by Fascistic and/or Zionist Jew apologists.

And since Zionist Jews are among the worse of people, who would want their endorsement..

To me, it would be like seeking a pat on the back from a rapist.

 

Hmm.

A handy gathering and cabal of demons.

 

We've seen it too many times before. Your own country, Australia, the US, Germany, Poland, many other states routinely side with Israel on a ton of issues. The effect of this on tourism to these counties is non-existent. Why can't you get it through your head. No one gives a f&ck about fringe Jew-hating neonazis like you and most definitely no one (besides a tiny Israel obsessed fringe) is making purchasing/voting/vacation decisions based on the I/P conflict.

 

But the Sheckle Republic are the only one that cut off their foreskin, in Europe.

 

Careful with that language now, Borat.

Any more clear by passing of the filter, and we will have to take it to a higher level.

You can make points without this, I am sure.

 

But only a tiny number of Islamofascists in Europe know about it or give it a second thought. I don't think they (you) are all that welcome in Czech Republic in the first place, they are good decent civilized people, the Czechs would not pee on Jew-hating islamofascists if they were on fire.

 

'Don't give a f&ck' is Kazakh for 'Could not care less' LOL

 

Face it, Prague have stepped on a rake, and it has sprung up and smacked them in the face.

It doesn't matter how much 'yammer' you give it on the internent, sonny jim, that does not alter the smaller FACT, that there were the ONLY county in the whole of Europe, to vote no, and therefore, behave like good little goy.

You say it won't impact on their reputation and tourism?

I think it will.

We shall see.