Israel-Palestine: The Mediterranean Paradox

Abstract

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict provides, in theory, good grounds for encouraging regional integration as a strategy for conflict transformation: the conflict is regional in nature, and Europe’s geographical proximity and past colonial involvement make the European Union (EU) a useful framework for the region to emulate. Moreover, instability in the region and the interests of key regional stakeholders in the conflict also lend credence to the integration-peace strategy. However, the EU has not pursued a tangible regional integration strategy to help transform the conflict. Instead, the intentional and unintentional use of certain pathways of influence indicates the EU’s growing reliance on its neo-functionalist approach towards conflict transformation. This has included a subdued but consistent promotion of regional cooperation to foster dialogue and civil society cooperation between both sides and other regional actors.