Despite energy ‘carrot’, EU’s worries about Israel grow

FOR years, much of the West’s relationship with Israel has been challenging. Yet the new landscape of energy diplomacy, in the wake of the Ukrainian war, offers a window of opportunity for renewed relations.

This is especially the case for Europe, as both European Union (EU) and non-EU nations diversify their energy sources following Russia’s invasion.

When European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen visited Israel last year – the first such trip by an EU head in a decade – energy was the overarching topic. Israel has turned from a natural gas importer to an exporter in recent years, thanks to major offshore finds.