European-Israeli Relations: Between Confusion and Change?

European-Israeli Relations: Between Confusion and Change? reassesses the current interactions between Europe and Israel. It is a sequel to Israel and Europe: An Expanding Abyss? which was published in spring 2005. By the end of 2004 the European Union was on the way to greater integration. Its proposed constitution was expected to be ratified. It was anticipated that this would lead to a more powerful Europe. After the rejection in 2005 of its constitution by France and the Netherlands and the rise in Muslim intimidation and terrorism, the EU has lost part of its self-assuredness and finds itself in a period of confusion and Europessimism. In Israel, the disengagement from Gaza, the breakup of the political scene, and the armed confrontation in Lebanon have introduced new uncertainties about the future. Also affecting European-Israeli relations are the deepening quagmire in Iraq, the emergence of an explicitly genocidal anti-Semitic regime in Iran, and a Hamas government in the Palestinian territories that has backtracked on previous Palestinian commitments. The developments of the past two years have made an Israeli-European dialogue more possible and potentially useful to both sides. That is why Israel should invest efforts in it. Another important action Israel should take is to organize its friends in Europe. In the second part of the book, fifteen interviewees from Europe and Israel discuss European-Israeli relationships in several areas.

Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld is chairman of the Board of Fellows of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, editor of the Jewish Political Studies Review, publisher of Changing Jewish Communities and co-publisher of Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism and Jerusalem Viewpoints. Dr Gerstenfeld has been an international business strategist for 40 years. His background is in chemistry, economics, environmental studies, and Jewish studies. He is a former director in an international consultancy whose other shareholders included four of the world s largest banks, and has also been a board member of several public companies including one of Israel's leading investment companies. Gerstenfeld has authored ten books and edited one. His books have been published in five languages, including the Italian bestseller Revaluing Italy. He has also published articles in leading newspapers and journals in various countries on political, economic, environmental, religious, and historical subjects.