Israel and the European Union: A Documentary History: Sharon Pardo: Lexington Books

Israel and the European Union

A Documentary History

Israel and the European Union

A Documentary History

Description

Israel's relations with the European Union stretch back to the early days of the European Community and the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. From that point onward, Israel and Europe have developed an increasingly strong network of political, economic, scientific, and cultural ties. These relations have, however, consisted of a number of conflicting trends. Indeed, even while the EU has become Israel's most important trading partner, the political relationship has been marked by disappointment, frustration, and, at times, even anger.
Israel and the European Union: A Documentary History, by Sharon Pardo and Joel Peters, traces the history of these complex relations by bringing together over two hundred documents in one volume. The documents contained in this book are divided into five time periods: i) 1957–1966, Israel Looks to Europe; ii) 1967–1979, Between War and Peace; iii) 1980–1991, From Venice to Madrid; iv) 1992–2003, From Oslo to Barcelona; and v) 2004–2011, A Renaissance Cut Short?. Each section is preceded by a short essay outlining the major themes of Israeli-European Relations during those years. The authors have not added any commentary to the documents themselves and instead have allowed the documents to speak for themselves.
The aim of this book is to offer a public record for future researchers and students of the dynamics of European-Israeli relations—as well as of Europe's relationship with the Middle East—over the past fifty years. Israel and the European Union is designed to serve as a companion volume to Pardo and Peters' Uneasy Neighbors: Israel and the European Union (Lexington Books, 2010).

Abbreviations
Preface
Chapter One: 1957–1966, Israel Looks to Europe
Documents 1957–1966
Chapter Two: 1967–1979, Between War and Peace
Documents 1967–1979
Chapter Three: 1980–1991, From Venice to Madrid
Documents 1980–1991
Chapter Four: 1992–2003, From Oslo to Barcelona
Documents 1992–2003
Chapter Five: 2004–2011, A Renaissance Cut Short?
Documents 2004–2011
About the Authors
Index

Product details

Published	06 Dec 2013
Format	Paperback
Edition	1st
Extent	580
ISBN	9780739190753
Imprint	Lexington Books
Dimensions	234 x 157 mm
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

While conducting research for their previous book, Uneasy Neighbors: Israel and the European Union (CH, Sep'10, 48-0528), Pardo (Ben-Gurion Univ., Israel) and Peters (Virginia Tech) "gathered several hundred documents and newspaper articles on the Israeli-European relationship." This book is an outgrowth of that research and meant to be a companion volume. It provides English translations for over 200 primary documents culled from newspaper articles, the Israel State Archives, the European Community Historical Archives, diaries and correspondence of leaders and diplomats, and documents from various Israeli and European research institutes. This volume will allow advanced students and scholars to gain a more exhaustive understanding of the often bumpy history of diplomatic and trade relations between Israel and the European Union from the latter's beginnings in 1957 until 2011. The book is divided into five sections by historical era: 1957-66, 1967-79, 1980-91, 1992-2003, and 2004-11. Introductory essays outlining each section help put the documents into historical and biographical context, and an extensive list of abbreviations is also included--a useful tool when working with diplomatic history and lingo. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews
Pardo and Peters, having collected a wealth of documents, provide an impressive chronological account of the long and well-developed Israeli-EU relationship, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, offering valuable insights into the Middle East peace process, and demonstrating the growing role of the EU as an international actor. This documentary compendium is a must-read and an invaluable guide for teachers, researchers, and practitioners of Israeli-EU relations and the Middle East generally.

Emil J. Kirchner, University of Essex
A truly invaluable collection of highly important and sometimes very rare documents on EU-Israel relations. Should be in the library of all those interested in EU external relations and in particular of those interested in the EU’s Mediterranean Policy.

Marc Maresceau, Ghent University
Sharon Pardo and Joel Peters, two of the world's leading academic experts on EU-Israeli relations, are to be congratulated and praised for collecting this important selection of documents on EU-Israeli relations, from the 1950s until today. The book convinces through the insightful introductions to all chapters as well as the presentation of these original documents, some of them breath-taking and so far not acknowledged enough or even not yet referred to in academic and popular debates on this topic. The book is a must-have for every scholar and practitioner working on EU-Israeli or Euro-Mediterranean politics. The book lets history speak- and this sometimes is the best recipe against the stereotypes and misunderstandings which all too often have characterized EU-Israeli relations.

Stephen Stetter, Universität der Bundeswehr Munich
With this book, Sharon Pardo and Joel Peters provide a very important tool for students, scholars, and practitioners working on EU–Israel relations, Israeli foreign policy, and EU external action. Diplomats, historians, and anyone intrigued by the complex political realities of the Middle East will also find this book of great value.

Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs
This collection presents over 200 documents from 1957–2011 relevant to understanding the relationship between European countries and Israel, enhanced by the authors’ analysis of the major themes these papers highlight.

Brief Notices