The Rubik's Cube of Israeli–European Union Relations

Abstract

Israeli–European Union (EU) relations have consisted of several conflicting trends that have resulted in the emergence of a highly problematic and volatile relationship: one characterized by a strong and ever-increasing network of economic, cultural and personal ties, yet marked at the political level by disappointment, bitterness and anger. On the one hand, Israel has displayed a genuine desire to strengthen its ties with the EU and to be included as part of the European integration project. On the other hand, Israelis are deeply suspicious of the Union’s policies and are untrusting of the EU’s intentions toward the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Middle East as a whole. As a result, Israel has been determined to minimize the EU’s role in the Middle East Peace Process and to deny it any direct involvement in the negotiations with the Palestinians. At the same time, the EU displays an equally ambivalent attitude concerning the nature of its ties with Israel. This chapter summarizes key developments in Israeli–European Community/EU relations from 1957 to 2019.