Israel’s 9/11 — Evolving Realities in Europe-Israel Relations

The European Union’s foreign policy chief decried “another massacre of civilians” and called for an end to the Gaza “bloodbath” on June 8 after Israel rescued four of the more than 120 hostages remaining from Oct. 7, when Hamas led the slaughter of 1,200 Israelis and others. The EU previously threatened to sanction Israel. European Parliament elections June 9 may have weakened some countries’ critics of Israel while strengthening already rising antisemitism. CIE’s June 19 webinar reviews the condition of European Jewish communities and Israel relations in Ireland and Spain, both of which recently recognized Palestinian statehood, and in Italy, which has taken a more balanced approach. Our panelists are Chief Rabbi of Ireland Yoni Wieder, Union of Italian Jewish Communities President Noemi Di Segni and former head of the Madrid Jewish community David Hatchwell Altaras. CIE President Ken Stein, an Emory University emeritus professor of Middle East history, political science and Israel studies, moderates the discussion.