Israel fears EU could leave it in the cold

Israel is on a collision course with the European Union and could turn into a pariah state, like South Africa during the apartheid years, if its conflict with the Palestinians is not resolved, Israel's Foreign Ministry warns in a confidential 10-year forecast.

Israel is on a collision course with the European Union and could turn into a pariah state, like South Africa during the apartheid years, if its conflict with the Palestinians is not resolved, Israel's Foreign Ministry warns in a confidential 10-year forecast.

The 25-page document by the ministry's Centre for Political Research, says the EU is pushing to become a major global player in the next decade, and that as a result, the United States, Israel's main ally, could lose international influence.

A more influential Europe would likely demand greater Israeli compliance with international conventions and could try to limit Israel's freedom of action in its conflict with the Palestinians, it said."The EU could sharpen its expectation that Israel will comply with international norms ... and honour the authority of the United Nations," the analysts wrote.

Israel has accused the UN of being biased against it.