I was struck today by just how crazy much of Europe is acting. The European Union has finally decided to agree to a statement that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime is a bad thing, but they also want to take no action in response. The European method of choice for inaction is to wait for the UN report to confirm the proof that chemical weapons were used and then to refer the matter for action by the UN Security Council which everyone knows will do nothing.
On the other hand, there was action by the Europeans on another front. In response to major pressure from its government, the Dutch company Royal Haskoning DHV pulled out of a consortium that was building a sewage treatment plant in East Jerusalem. The company's statement gave as the reason for the move that the plant would serve, among other places, some of the apartment buildings built by Israelis for Jews in that part of the capital and that these buildings "cause severe human rights violations".
You cannot make this stuff up. The area which would have its sewage sent to the proposed plant includes large sections in the eastern half of metropolitan Jerusalem. It would reduce water pollution and improve the health of all who live there, about half of whom are Palestinians. Nevertheless, the Palestinian Authority hailed the company's decision as a great victory for their cause. It makes me wonder in what universe anyone could see depriving folks of pollution control and improved public health can be seen as a victory. I also wonder how the Dutch government can decide that the failure of Israel to keep parts of Jerusalem free of Jews is a human rights violation. It sounds like 1943.
So in Europe if Assad gasses and kills thousands, it is not good but there is no need to do anything. On the other hand, if Israel builds a sewage treatment plant to clean the water and improve public health, it is a "severe human rights violation" that demands immediate action. Amazing.
By the way, Royal Haskoning DHV has offices in Bethesda, Maryland and also in New Orleans, Louisiana. I suggest that anyone who is considering doing business with them might want to stop. After all, these folks cannot even identify a human rights violation. How good could they possibly be at construction and design?
On the other hand, there was action by the Europeans on another front. In response to major pressure from its government, the Dutch company Royal Haskoning DHV pulled out of a consortium that was building a sewage treatment plant in East Jerusalem. The company's statement gave as the reason for the move that the plant would serve, among other places, some of the apartment buildings built by Israelis for Jews in that part of the capital and that these buildings "cause severe human rights violations".
You cannot make this stuff up. The area which would have its sewage sent to the proposed plant includes large sections in the eastern half of metropolitan Jerusalem. It would reduce water pollution and improve the health of all who live there, about half of whom are Palestinians. Nevertheless, the Palestinian Authority hailed the company's decision as a great victory for their cause. It makes me wonder in what universe anyone could see depriving folks of pollution control and improved public health can be seen as a victory. I also wonder how the Dutch government can decide that the failure of Israel to keep parts of Jerusalem free of Jews is a human rights violation. It sounds like 1943.
So in Europe if Assad gasses and kills thousands, it is not good but there is no need to do anything. On the other hand, if Israel builds a sewage treatment plant to clean the water and improve public health, it is a "severe human rights violation" that demands immediate action. Amazing.
By the way, Royal Haskoning DHV has offices in Bethesda, Maryland and also in New Orleans, Louisiana. I suggest that anyone who is considering doing business with them might want to stop. After all, these folks cannot even identify a human rights violation. How good could they possibly be at construction and design?
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