The High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell met with Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen in Brussels on Tuesday for their first in person encounter. They discussed the bilateral relations between the EU and Israel as well as regional issues.

HR/VP Borrell recalled that cooperation between the EU and Israel is very strong and the EU is keen on deepening this relationship further, hoping for another meeting of the Association Council this year.  Holding the Association Council as the highest institutional level of bilateral dialogue is important not just to continue strengthening EU-Israel relationship, but also because of the importance of cooperation to face global challenges, among them Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, or Iran’s regional role.

The HR/VP condemned recent terrorist and rocket attacks against Israelis, and underlined the EU’s commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself.  He recalled that any response must be proportionate and in line with international law. At the same time, he expressed concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The HR/VP also welcomed the recent work towards de-escalation under the auspices of the US, Jordan and Egypt and expressed the EU’s willingness to assist in the process. He reiterated the EU’s call for Israel to halt unilateral measures that could heighten the already high level of tension and jeopardize the very possibility of a future just and sustainable peace based on the two State solution, and repeated the importance of respecting the status quo of the Holy Sites. 

The EU is seeking an open and constructive exchange with Israel on the Middle East Peace Process. The EU and its Member States remain firmly committed to the two-state solution and the HRVP recalled the European readiness to contribute to a peace process. The HRVP informed Minister Cohen of the work he is doing with EU Special Representative for Middle East Peace Process Sven Koopmans, and together with Saudi Arabia and the League of Arab States and other Arab States, to revive peace efforts, through plans for a comprehensive regional peace, building on the Arab Peace Initiative and the European offer of a ‘peace package’, and invited minister Cohen to engage on it.  

The EU supports the normalisation agreements Israel has signed with a number of Arab countries and stands ready to explore further initiatives. The EU also hopes that these can bring benefits for the Palestinians, without which the positive dynamic of normalisation will remain incomplete.

Tomorrow’s Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting will be a key opportunity to discuss how to strengthen the Palestinian economy and institutions.

The EU and Israel will continue to deepen their bilateral dialogue on all of these topics. The HR/VP accepted the invitation from Minister Cohen to visit Israel.