Israel-Europe conflicts: Exploring roots of their diverging interests
By Mohammad Mahdi Mohammadi
International security researcher
As the conflict in the Middle East lingers on and the war between Israel and Palestine persists, the tensions between Israel and Europe have become a significant issue that warrants examination. This raises the question: Why do these two sides have conflicting interests? The conflict between Israel and Europe in international relations stems from complex and intertwined issues, each contributing to broader tensions. These points of contention highlight the challenges in aligning the differing views and interests of the two sides.
Israel-Palestine conflict
The primary point of contention is the Israel-Palestine conflict. Historically, Europe has supported a two-state solution and has repeatedly criticized Israeli policies that appear to obstruct the peace process. European countries have consistently condemned Israel’s expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, viewing them as illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace. The European Union (EU) has sometimes taken measures to address this issue. In 2016, the EU issued a statement emphasizing that “all Israeli settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory, including East al-Quds, are illegal under international law and constitute a serious threat to the two-state solution.”
As the conflict in the Middle East lingers on and the war between Israel and Palestine persists, the tensions between Israel and Europe have become a significant issue that warrants examination. This raises the question: Why do these two sides have conflicting interests? The conflict between Israel and Europe in international relations stems from complex and intertwined issues, each contributing to broader tensions. These points of contention highlight the challenges in aligning the differing views and interests of the two sides.
Israel-Palestine conflict
The primary point of contention is the Israel-Palestine conflict. Historically, Europe has supported a two-state solution and has repeatedly criticized Israeli policies that appear to obstruct the peace process. European countries have consistently condemned Israel’s expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, viewing them as illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace. The European Union (EU) has sometimes taken measures to address this issue. In 2016, the EU issued a statement emphasizing that “all Israeli settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory, including East al-Quds, are illegal under international law and constitute a serious threat to the two-state solution.”