Europe's Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Unraveling Geopolitical Agenda

The recent outbreak of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has exposed the unraveling of Europe's geopolitical agenda. Just a few months ago, Europe seemed to be acting in unity, supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and demonstrating a strong transatlantic relationship. However, Europe's role in other regions, such as western Africa and the balkans, has been marred by policy failures and an inability to prevent violence.

In western Africa, Europe's military operation to combat jihadist forces has failed, leading to a breakdown of governance, food insecurity, and outward migration. The EU's approach of combining security, development aid, and democratic reforms has proven ineffective. In the Western Balkans, violence has erupted between Serbia and Kosovo, and the EU has been unable to quell the conflict or facilitate a diplomatic agreement.

The situation is even worse in the Caucasus, where EU mediation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan collapsed, resulting in the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from the enclave of Karabakh. Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey and implicitly by Russia, continues to assert its claims on sovereign Armenian territory, further destabilizing the region.

Furthermore, Europe's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been contradictory and divided. While some European leaders have been clear in emphasizing Israel's legal obligations, others have been ambiguous, causing friction within European institutions. The recent split among EU countries at the United Nations General Assembly reflects this lack of consensus.

The article suggests that the crumbling of European unity over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could have broader implications for Europe's role in other areas, such as Ukraine. As hopes for a geopolitical Europe fade, the author argues that a united and principled multilateral union is needed in a world facing fragmentation, polarization, and violence.

In conclusion, Europe's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict highlights the unraveling of its geopolitical agenda. The lack of unity and coherence in European approaches to various regions and conflicts undermines its standing as a global actor. It is imperative that Europe reevaluates its strategies and demonstrates courageous and constructive leadership to address the challenges of an increasingly fragmented world.