Changing approaches to security / Policy Brief
The EU's approach to Israel and the Palestinians
22/06/2009 By Clara Marina O'Donnell
 |
| AFP/Getty Images |
US President Barack Obama is firmly committed to making progress towards peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since taking office, he has repeatedly emphasised the need to work towards a two-state solution.
Despite divisions amongst Palestinians and the reluctance of the new Israeli government to work towards a viable two-state solution, this Policy Brief by Clara Marina O’Donnell explores how the EU should do its utmost to support US efforts to bring both parties to the negotiating table.
Serious peace talks are impossible while the Palestinians remain divided. The EU must actively support Palestinian reconciliation and consider suspending its assistance to Palestinian police forces until a unity government is formed to avoid deepening divisions between Hamas and Fatah.
This Policy Brief has been jointly published with the Centre for European Reform (CER).
Download the full version of this publication, available in English (240 kB)
Spanish (242 kB)
To read or listen to the comments of our experts in the media about this and other topics, please visit our Press section.
Keywords
Democratisation Dialogue EU Gaza Strip and West Bank Israel Peace processRelated publications
- Is a right-wing government the answer to the Israeli-Arab conflict?
- A proposal for governance of the Gaza Strip in the context of the announced israeli withdrawal
- Europe, Israel and Palestine: endgame?
- Israel and Gaza: We're waiting, Mr Obama
- US-Israeli policy and the new White House
Bio author: Clara Marina O'Donnell
Clara O'Donnell joined the CER in June 2007, as a research fellow on EU foreign policy and defence. She previously worked for NATO at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium and as a researcher for Chatham House on Europe. She has also had various placements within different EU institutions.
