Israel, Hamas, and the laws of war
European leaders agree that Israel has the right to defend itself as long as it complies with international law. It is time that they recognise the limits those laws set
Israel / Palestine
The global consequences of the Israel-Hamas war
The impact of the Israel-Hamas war will reverberate around the world, with consequences for the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States. While the specific challenges vary, none has an interest in drawing out or widening the conflict
Bracing for a broader conflict: How the Israel-Hamas war could escalate
The unfolding war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is at the precipice of a broader regional conflict. Europeans must urgently join regional efforts to support preventive diplomacy and avoid escalation
Torn apart: How the Israel-Hamas war is dividing French society
The ongoing conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel is tearing apart an already polarised French society, resonating with some of the country’s deepest divisions
Podcast special: Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel
Mark Leonard welcomes Eran Etzion, Julien Barnes-Dacey, and Hugh Lovatt to discuss Hamas’s offensive against Israel and its effects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider Middle East
How Europeans should respond to the Hamas offensive against Israel
In the aftermath of the brutal assault by Hamas, Europeans need to focus on ensuring the war does not spiral out of control
House in disorder: How Europeans can help Palestinians fix their political system
Europeans should leverage their relationships with the Palestinian Authority to revive Palestinian institutions and reverse the PA’s slide towards authoritarianism
After Jenin: A European response to West Bank escalation
Israel’s operations on the West Bank are a counterproductive way to deal with armed groups. European action should focus on helping to address the drivers of the recent surge of violence.
Tipping point: What Israel’s illiberal turn means for Palestinians
Israel’s growing illiberalism cannot be separated from its decades-long subjugation of Palestinians
Bide and seek: The dangers of US support for a Gulf-Israeli defence pact
Military alignment between Israel and Gulf Arab states risks heightened conflict in the Middle East – without weakening Iran’s geopolitical position or nuclear programme
Publications
House in disorder: How Europeans can help Palestinians fix their political system
Europeans should leverage their relationships with the Palestinian Authority to revive Palestinian institutions and reverse the PA’s slide towards authoritarianism
The end of Oslo: A new European strategy on Israel-Palestine
Instead of its rigid focus on the Oslo peace process, the EU should craft a new peacemaking paradigm based on equality and deoccupation
Articles
Israel, Hamas, and the laws of war
European leaders agree that Israel has the right to defend itself as long as it complies with international law. It is time that they recognise the limits those laws set
The global consequences of the Israel-Hamas war
The impact of the Israel-Hamas war will reverberate around the world, with consequences for the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States. While the specific challenges vary, none has an interest in drawing out or widening the conflict
Bracing for a broader conflict: How the Israel-Hamas war could escalate
The unfolding war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is at the precipice of a broader regional conflict. Europeans must urgently join regional efforts to support preventive diplomacy and avoid escalation
Torn apart: How the Israel-Hamas war is dividing French society
The ongoing conflict in Gaza between Hamas and Israel is tearing apart an already polarised French society, resonating with some of the country’s deepest divisions
How Europeans should respond to the Hamas offensive against Israel
In the aftermath of the brutal assault by Hamas, Europeans need to focus on ensuring the war does not spiral out of control
After Jenin: A European response to West Bank escalation
Israel’s operations on the West Bank are a counterproductive way to deal with armed groups. European action should focus on helping to address the drivers of the recent surge of violence.
Tipping point: What Israel’s illiberal turn means for Palestinians
Israel’s growing illiberalism cannot be separated from its decades-long subjugation of Palestinians
Bide and seek: The dangers of US support for a Gulf-Israeli defence pact
Military alignment between Israel and Gulf Arab states risks heightened conflict in the Middle East – without weakening Iran’s geopolitical position or nuclear programme
Why Europe needs a rights-based policy after the Gaza conflict
ECFR council members call on Europe to push forward a rights-based policy to break the cycle of conflict in Israel-Palestine
Cancellation costs: Abbas and Palestinian democracy
By cancelling Palestine’s first elections in 15 years, President Mahmoud Abbas has relinquished Palestinian democracy and national reunification, and is setting the stage for future turmoil
Podcasts
Podcast special: Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel
Mark Leonard welcomes Eran Etzion, Julien Barnes-Dacey, and Hugh Lovatt to discuss Hamas’s offensive against Israel and its effects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider Middle East
Special ECFR discussion on Palestinian politics
Discussion about the political shifts from the March Israeli elections and dynamics surrounding the upcoming Palestinian elections
Interview with Daniel Seidemann
In this special ECFR discussion, MENA Policy Fellow Hugh Lovatt interviews Daniel Seidemann, the Founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem and an Israeli attorney that specialises in…
Trump’s “Deal of the Century” debunked: is there something in it for Palestine at all?
When US-President Donal Trump revealed his much-awaited plan for peace for Israel and Palestine it was set to solve one of the world's longest-running conflict
The role of France in the Middle East
Is France alone in the desert? ECFR experts Julien Barnes-Dacey and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil discuss how France can lead Europe in the Middle East
ECFR Clips: Trump’s impact on the Middle East
Ruth Citrin speaks with Ellie Geranmayeh, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Hugh Lovatt, about the state of play in the MENA region and the considerations for Europeans…
US and Europe clash in the Middle East
Mark Leonard speaks with ECFR Policy Fellows Hugh Lovatt, Ellie Geranmayeh and Julien Barnes-Dacey about reactions to Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital…
Israël-Palestine : “le manque de volonté politique menace la solution à deux Etats”
Nouveau podcast de notre série sur les présidentielles de 2017 ayant pour objectif de traiter les thèmes d'actualité et de contribuer au débat…
Violence and revolt in Israel/Palestine – the Palestinian perspective
Hugh Lovatt speaks to Fadi Quran, activist, senior campaigner for Avaaz, and according to the Time magazine “the new face of the Middle East”
Violence and revolt in Israel/Palestine – the Israeli perspective
ECFR's Hugh Lovatt and Mattia Toaldo speak to independent journalist and editor Noam Sheizaf, who has previously worked for a number of Israeli news…
Events
13 Jun
The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Peace after Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’
Discussion of the US 'peace' plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and EU's position and role in the peace process
16 Mar
Law in the Service of Injustice
A Private Roundtable with B'Tselem
5 May
Continuity or Change? Deciphering Trump’s Policy on Israel and Middle East Peace
Do the shifts of Trump's rhetoric toward Israel reflect a new administration adjusting to the pull of competing interests?
23 Nov
Debate electoral sobre Siria y Oriente Medio
Desayuno organizado por ECFR Madrid, Política Exterior y esglobal, con la colaboración de Caixa Forum Madrid
25 Jun
Mesa redonda con Yehuda Shaul de Breaking the Silence
El pasado martes 23 de junio ECFR Madrid y Eslgobal debatieron con Yehuda Shaul, co-fundador de la ONG israelí “Breaking the Silence”, acerca de su nuevo libro “El Libro Negro de la Ocupación”. Entre los expertos que asistieron se contó con periodistas, profesores, activistas, cooperantes y analistas
In the media
In my view, these perceptions are largely substantiated, and are amplified by comparison with Europe’s response to the Russian war in Ukraine,
Neither Middle Eastern host countries nor countries in Europe have accurate numbers
The al-Qassam brigade physically holds hostages so they are the ultimate power brokers, but not the only ones
I don’t think it would be wise for any Palestinian movement to say: ‘We will do this under the watchful eye of Israel’
Daniel Levy explains why he counsels the Palestinian Authority against entering Gaza if security remains an Israeli preserve