![The European Union in Turbulent Times: Challenges, Trends, and Significance for Israel](https://israeled.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/image001-3.jpg)
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Prominent among the leading issues confronting the European community over the past decade is the migration challenge, which has sparked profound political disputes between and within the countries of the European Union. The waves of migrants have reignited xenophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic sentiments with new fervor, and led to the strengthening of nationalist and populist right movements. These trends have been aggravated as a result of terrorist actions motivated by radical Islam.
Changes in the international arena are also challenging the European community. The readiness of Russia to use military force has given new life to the threat o the Cold War. An increasingly powerful China is utilizing trade agreements to drive a wedge between European countries. Relations between Turkey and the EU are more and more strained,not unlike the suspicious relations between the European community and the Sunni Gulf states. These issues are particularly salient against the background of the growing estrangement of the United States, under President Trump, from the EU.
Despite progress in economic relations between Europe and Israel, the EU continues to adhere to its staunch criticism of Israel with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflcit. This near-automatic political orientation makes it difficult or Israel to regard the EU as an unbiased mediator, especially in view o the activity of the delegitimization movement against Israel and the awakening of anti-Semitism against European Jews.
Contents:
Preface 7
Acknowledgments 11
The European Union and the Challenges of Globalization
The EU: Challenges at Home and Abroad
Shimon Stein 15
The EU in the Shadow of the Immigration Crisis
Yotam Rosner and Adi Kantor 27
The Current Terrorism Threat in Europe
Yoram Schweitzer 37
The Populist Radical Right in Europe
Yotam Rosner 49
Relations between the European Union and the Superpowers
EU-US Relations in the Trump Era
Oded Eran, Yotam Rosner, and Rotem Oreg 61
A House Divided: How the Russian Question Polarizes EU-rope
Anastassiya Reshetnyak 71
China-Europe Relations: Opportunities and Risks
Doron Ella 81
The European Union and the Middle East
Turkey and the EU: A Tug of War Relationship
Gallia Lindenstrauss and Julius Rogenhofer 93
The EU’s Energy Challenges
Elai Rettig and Oded Eran 103
Europe in the Gulf: From Economic Partnership to Strategic Involvement?
Yoel Guzansky 113
Iran-Europe Relations: After the Sanctions were Lifted
Sima Shine and Anna Catran 123
Europe-Israel Relations
The EU and a Two-State Solution: Prospects for Change?
Gilead Sher 125
Europe and the Delegitimization of Israel in 2017
Michal Hatuel-Radoshitzky and Rotem Oreg 135
Economic Relations between Israel and Europe: Selected Issues
Elai Rettig and Oded Eran 145
European Jewry in an Era of Turmoil: Elections, Anti-Semitism, and Security Issues
Oded Eran, Rob Geist Pinfold, and Sarah Roost 153