Israel and the European Union

Reviews / Votes

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, Universitaet 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 *