Key facts
- Former Israeli National Security Adviser Jacob Nagel believes the EU will eventually recognize Israel's position.
- Nagel described the EU as 'irrelevant' and urged it to address internal challenges like terrorism and immigration.
- He stated that despite recent tensions, the US remains Israel's 'best ally'.
- Nagel criticized President Trump's deal with Iran, suggesting it benefits Tehran and is a mistake.
- He noted that Iran could earn significant revenue from temporary oil export waivers.
Jacob Nagel, former national security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed his belief that the European Union will eventually 'come to its senses' regarding its stance on Israel. In an interview with Euronews, Nagel described the EU as 'irrelevant' and suggested that its leaders should focus on pressing internal issues such as terrorism and immigration, rather than disagreements with Israel.
Nagel's comments come amid strained EU-Israel relations, including a recent severing of contact by Israel's Foreign Minister with the EU's foreign policy chief over alleged comparisons of Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. Additionally, some EU member states are pressuring the European Commission to propose measures restricting trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
He asserted that European countries are facing significant internal challenges and have 'already lost the war against the immigrants,' implying that Israel is not the EU's primary problem. Nagel also addressed US-Israel relations, acknowledging some recent tensions but reaffirming the strong alliance between the two nations. He specifically commented on President Trump's approach to Iran, suggesting that prioritizing domestic interests, particularly oil prices ahead of mid-term elections, was a mistake. Nagel indicated that Iran could benefit significantly from temporary waivers on oil exports, potentially earning billions of dollars.
Despite understanding Trump's motivations, Nagel believes the US president is making an error by not adopting a more hawkish stance on Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. He suggested that while the US might be temporarily focused on its own interests, it will eventually 'understand who the Iranians are' and resume efforts to counter their influence.