Conference: 'Myths and Reality: The European Union and the Middle East'

The EU has long been involved with the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, aimed at providing support, incentives and investments in each partner with the shared goal of creating a lasting and permanent solution. In light of the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations in July 2013, the EU has taken several steps that should be understood in light of any proposed future EU policy to the Middle East.

July 2013: Resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations

In July 2013 Israel and the Palestinian Authority entered into renewed peace negotiations, under an agreed framework and umbrella provided by the US. The negotiators agreed on a nine-month minimum time-frame during which the parties have to cover all major issues within the conflict, including Israeli security requirements, recognition of Jewish state, Palestinian refugees and Jerusalem.

July 2013: EU guidelines relating to Israeli entities beyond the 1967 ‘Green Line’

In July 2013 the EU Commission Journal published a set of guidelines relating to ‘grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards’. The guidelines stated that no financial link should exist between the EU and Israeli settlements beyond the ‘Green Line’. A successful set of high level bilateral negotiations ensured Israel’s place within the €73 billion research and development EU program, Horizon 2020, on what was called ‘mutually acceptable terms’ which had been placed in question following the publication of the guidelines.

EU involvement in the peace process

The EU has expressed optimism about the current round of peace talks, stating that "there is reason to be more optimistic for a breakthrough this time round". The EU has also adopted a "carrot and stick" approach towards the current round of negotiations, stating that the reward for a successful agreement being signed would result in an ‘unprecedented’ offer of aid and incentives to both Israelis and Palestinians, whilst a failure would lead to a cut in funding for the Palestinian Authority and a boycott of Israeli products from the West Bank.

EU funds and the Palestinian Authority

Questions regarding Palestinian Authority spending of EU funds were raised in October 2013 when an EU leaked report stated that €2bn in EU funds to the Palestinian Authority had been lost or unaccounted for. The European Court of Auditors report, published on December 11, 2013 noted that a considerable number of civil servants in Gaza were being paid without going to work and providing a public service. The question of spending was once again bought to the forefront when it was revealed that the Palestinian Authority had given each of the 26 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of the ongoing talks, $50,000 each and a top job. This comes in light of an announcement by the European Union that it had transferred a further €11 million in funds to the Palestinian Authority for November 2013.

Take part in the EFI conference

Myths and Reality: The European Union and the Middle East, 22 January 2014, with the panel at 16h30-18h: EU and Israel/Palestine: Peace, Conflict and the Future
European Parliament, Room: A1E2

SPEAKERS:

Ambassador David Waltzer: Israel’s ambassador to the European Union since 2010. Having gained both a BA and Master’s degree from Haifa and Jerusalem Hebrew University respectively, Ambassador Waltzer joined the Israeli foreign minister in 1983. His diplomatic postings have included Denmark, Berlin, Canada and Kenya in numerous roles. Ambassador Waltzer is viewed as a senior and expert member of the Israeli Foreign Ministry and his various international postings have solidified his experience and reputation as a bridge between the State of Israel and its European partners.

David Pollock: From 1996 to 2001, Dr. Pollock served in several other state department policy advisory positions covering South Asia and the Middle East, including four years as regional expert on the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff. Previously, he was chief of Near East/South Asia/Africa research at the US Information Agency, where he supervised the government's study of public opinion, elite attitudes, and media content across the three regions. In 1995-1996, he was a scholar-in-residence at The Washington Institute, where he authored the widely read policy paper The 'Arab Street'? Public Opinion in the Arab World. Dr. Pollock has served as a visiting lecturer at Harvard University and as assistant professor at George Washington University. He has travelled widely in the Middle East and maintains a large network of contacts in government, academia, and business throughout the region.

Sheldon Shulman has held positions in the government of Israel, at the foreign ministry and as the Director of a Department in the Prime Minister's Office. In the IDF, he served as assistant advisor to the prime minister on countering terrorism for several years, and he continued to serve as a reserve officer. He has been involved in the peace process and with US-Israeli relations, and he has also taught International Law at Tel Aviv University's Law Faculty. Over the years, he has briefed senior members of US administrations, Congress, military and the intelligence community. He was the business partner of former US Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, was the CEO of two Israeli technology companies, and was an advisor on international security affairs to a major US-based global financial institution, as well as serving as an advisor to the technology transfer company of one of Israel's major universities, and continues to serve as an advisor to several major international and Israeli defence and homeland security companies.

Elinadav Heymann: Elinadav Heymann has been the director of the European Friends of Israel since June 2012, having served as the organization’s Director of Political Affairs from 2010-2012. Prior to his work in EFI, Elinadav has worked as a policy advisor for Foreign Affairs for the European Parliament and as a senior consultant in the T.A.R.A strategic consultancy group in Israel. During his career in Israel, he has served as a Spokesperson and Advisor to the Israeli Knesset and a senior intelligence analyst in the Israeli Air Force. He maintains a large network of foreign policy experts, government contacts and diplomatic connections in both Europe and Israel.

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