Israel's European Policy After the Cold War

What does Israel want from Europe and why? How does Israel pursue its goals? And, who are the relevant actors? This dissertation establishes what has been governing Israel's attitudes and behavior towards the EC/EU since the late 1980s. The end of the Cold War, the reversal of Israel's peace process policy under Rabin, and changes of government certainly have had an impact on Israel's behavior. But could the changes in behavior be due to the changes in circumstances and not to a change in the substance of Israel's attitude? As the analysis shows, Israel's European policy is astonishingly autonomous. It is also, almost exclusively, day-to-day politics. This study offers an insight into the workings of low politics of second or third priority, a view that is far from rare, but rarely taken. It also sheds light on the behavior of a state at the inferior end of an asymmetry of power: How does Israel cope when dealing with a vastly larger and more powerful actor, like the EU? Special attention is paid to Israel's self-perception and its understanding of Europe and of the EU's positions. The book also looks at misperceptions and policy failures that may result from these. Dissertation.