“Do not drop Europe – Experts call to adhere to the EU.” That is the title of a document written by a group of Israeli academics who specialize in the European Union. In this document, these authorities express their concern about the deteriorating relationship between Israel and Europe. They expect 2015 to mark a turning point in the EU’s attitude toward Israel, mainly because EU decision-makers consider the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to be a significant factor in a series of crises that threaten economic and political order on the continent. They are referring especially to Islamic terrorism, which is thriving, as it strikes at the heart of Europe. This violence is perceived in Europe as spillover of Middle Eastern violence to the continent.

The authors of the document, all senior researchers on the EU from leading Israeli universities, visited the EU headquarters in Brussels on Feb. 1-4, only about a month after the January terror attacks in Paris. The group included Prof. Alfred Tovias of the Hebrew University, Dr. Roby Nathanson of the Macro Center for Political Economics, Dr. Tal Sadeh from the Tel Aviv University, Dr. Lior Herman and Dr. Maya Sion from the Hebrew University and the author of this article. Following these Paris attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refocused and clarified his perception, by which Israel should decrease its economic dependence on Europe. Netanyahu anchored that on the wave of Islamization, anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism washing over Europe nowadays.

After a series of meetings with senior politicians and bureaucrats, the authors of the document left with the impression that there is enormous appreciation for Israel among the EU’s decision-makers. They regard Israel as a democratic country that honors international agreements, and consider it to be a nation committed to human rights. They recognize its obligation to its economy and its ability to implement market reforms, while maintaining macroeconomic discipline, and appreciate its dedication to furthering technology and innovation. Those senior officials had no qualms about saying that based on those perspectives alone Israel could easily integrate with the EU and become one of its most successful member states. At the same time, however, the document also emphasizes that it is important for Israel to take proactive measures to advance political and diplomatic stability in the region. This can be achieved by striving to reach a permanent agreement with the Palestinian Authority, for instance, and by establishing partnerships with moderate Arab regimes, and joining these, the EU and the United States in a common struggle against extremists in the Middle East.

The EU would like to rely on Israel as a strategic partner in its struggle to defend Western culture. To achieve this, however, “Israel must side with the EU as a partner, in such a way that avoids it being positioned as a factor contributing to the threat.”