“Major Earthquakes? The EU & Israel and the 2019 elections: Implications for Europe and the Middle East"

The parliamentary elections in the European Union in May and in Israel in autumn 2019 foreshadow fundamental changes on both sides. The election of the European Parliament has been described as a fateful vote for Europe to maintain its liberal core values, which have shaped the European project per se since its post-war inception.

In Israel new elections are currently scheduled for mid-September. Many in Israel share the opinion that current developments within the EU will be beneficial for a right-wing government in Israel, as it will hinder a united European position towards the Israeli-Palestinian issue, among other things. The new electoral campaign in Israel will likely increase polarisation: it will be difficult for Netanyahu to backtrack from his latest proposal to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Furthermore, his seemingly unlimited support received by US president Trump puts strains on Israeli-European relations.
Based on these observations, the Annual European Meeting of the Israeli European Policy Network, hosted by the FES EU Office, will discuss interrelated thematic sessions with high-ranking Israeli and European representatives in a closed conference.

Contact: Marco.Schwarz(at)fes-europe.eu