The past year has been relatively successful in terms of the relationship between Israel and European countries, a survey presented by Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and the Israeli ambassadors to Europe reveals.
The minister and the ambassadors met Monday to summarize 2020 and set objectives for 2021.
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The accomplishments noted in 2020 included the ratification of the Open Skies agreement between Israel and the European Union and progress in including Israel in Horizon Europe, an ambitious EU research and innovation framework slated to run between 2021 and 2027.
Other notable achievements saw Germany, Austria, Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic designate Hezbollah, Iran's regional proxy, as a terrorist group, and an increase in the support lent to Israel at the UN by European members-states.
A dozen European foreign ministers visited Israel during 2020 despite the global pandemic, and several countries adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, including Sweden, previously considered particularly hostile towards Israel.
Stockholm has lately been trying to persuade France to agree to reconvene The Association Council, the main body handling relations between the EU and Israel that has not met since 2013, as a form of protest by the EU due to lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
"For Europe, the Palestinian cause remains the most important this, and thus there has been no change," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
He said that there has been a shift in this aspect as Europeans changed their response to the Abraham Accords.
"They originally had a cold reaction to the peace agreements. It took a while for them to understand that from their point of view, nothing negative has happened, that the agreements will not lead to the neglect of the Palestinian cause.
"However, they still do not call these "peace deals," but rather "normalizations," the official said.
Ashkenazi said that the Israel-Europe relations will be the number one priority in 2021. He noted that in 2020 he spoke with all European foreign ministers and met with most of them at the EU meeting that an Israeli foreign minister was invited to for the first time.
"When I took office, I define the improvement of Israeli-European dialogue as one of the ministry's main goals," he said. "Europe is an important partner in Israel's foreign relations."
Ashkenazi added that the ministry will work to reduce the tension and affinity by Europeans over the Palestinian cause and promote good relations with Israel.
Deputy Director-General for European Affairs Anna Azari added that in the first half of 2020 when the possibility of Israel asserting sovereignty over part of Judea and Samaria was on the horizon, "there was fear of a catastrophe" between Israel and Europe.
However, the moment the annexation plans were canceled, there was an immediate shift and feeling that the dialogue with Europe has changed substantially.
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