Crunch time for the Israeli-Palestinian talks

European policy towards the Middle East Peace Process and Israeli/Palestinian perceptions of Europe’s role will be discussed as current US-led peace talks reach a nine-month deadline.

Guests

Uri Bank – Secretary-General of the Bayit Yehudi/Jewish Home Knesset Faction

Mustafa Barghouti – PLC member, ex-Minister, General Secretary of al Mubadara

Naomi Chazan Former President of the New Israel Fund, Former Member of the Knesset

Taghreed El-Khodary – Journalist

Daniel Levy – ECFR

Charles Shamas – Mattin Group

Noam Sheizaf – +972 Magazine

Mattia Toaldo – ECFR

Robert Wexler – former Congressman and President of the Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace

 

Chaired by

Marietje Schaake – MEP

“Crunch time for the Israeli-Palestinian talks: What are the prospects for peace and where does Europe fit?”

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is delighted to invite you to a morning conference hosted by MEP Marietje Schaake at the European Parliament on Friday 21 March to discuss European policy towards the Middle East Peace Process and Israeli/Palestinian perceptions of Europe’s role as current US-led peace talks reach a nine-month deadline.To register, please RSVP: [email protected]. If you require a pass, please send an e-mail with your name, date of birth, nationality and ID number by Monday 17th March.

Agenda

09:00

Arrival Refreshments

09:10

Welcome comments by  Marietje Schaake (MEP) and Daniel Levy (ECFR)

09:30

Session 1: Leveraging Peace: Palestinian and Israeli Perspectives on Europe’s Role

Uri Bank (Secretary-General of the Bayit Yehudi/Jewish Home Knesset Faction); Mustafa Barghouti (PLC member, ex-Minister, General Secretary of al Mubadara); Charles Shamas (Mattin Group); Noam Sheizaf (+972 Magazine), Mattia Toaldo (ECFR)

The discussion will explore Israeli and Palestinian perceptions of the European role in support of the Middle East Peace Process in general. In Israel the debate surrounding presumed European sanctions regarding settlements has placed more attention on the EU's role while Palestinians look at European support to the PA and bemoan the absence of a more political role and the maintenance of the status quo. How is Europe perceived and how do Europeans view their own leverage and what can be done differently, more of or not at all?

11:00

Coffee Break

11:15

Session 2: As the U.S. Peace Push Deadline Approaches: How are Israelis, Palestinians and Europeans positioning themselves?

Naomi Chazan (Former President of the New Israel Fund, Former Member of the Knesset); Taghreed El-Khodary (Journalist); Daniel Levy (ECFR); Robert Wexler (Former Member of Congress, S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace)

In light of the Secretary Kerry led US peace effort this discussion will look at how the various Israeli and Palestinian actors are preparing for a possible moment of truth and what European options are going forward – staying in the U.S. shadow, or re-calibrating elements of the bilateral relationship with Israelis or Palestinians. With the nine month deadline for the current phase of negotiations approaching, this panel will also look at both the very near-term prospects and likely developments on the Israel/Palestine front beyond that and where Europe fits in. 

12:45

Wrap up and conclusions with senior European officials

13:00

Reception