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Tenth European-Israeli Dialogue

Addressed by Tony Blair

19 - 20 October 2009
Jerusalem

The 10^th Europe-Israel Dialogue together with the 3^rd annual EU-Israel Business Dialogue, was held at Mishkenot Sha’ananim in Jerusalem from 19-20 October 2009. The Dialogue was jointly organised by ISD, the Jerusalem Foundation, Portland Trust and Axel Springer AG.  Key speakers included Tony Blair MP, envoy of the Quartet in the Middle East, Dan Meridor, Deputy Israeli Prime Minister, Tzipi Livni, leader of the Kadima party, Guenther Verheugen, EU Commissioner, and Mathias Doepfner, CEO Axel Springer.

The conference discussions on October 20th were divided between the Business Dialogue, held in the morning, and the Political Dialogue which met in the afternoon. The EU-Israel Business Dialogue  touched upon economic activity between Israel and the West Bank and a case was made that efforts to stimulate the Palestinian economy could act as a spur to political progress. It was argued that the Israeli and Palestinian business communities should consider themselves part of the peace process.

The EU-Israel Political Dialogue examined the current state of the peace process and the sometimes complex relationship between Israel and Europe. It was noted by some participants that there was a need for Israel and the EU to work together to navigate some of their common challenges.

The Gala conference dinner at the King David Hotel, generously hosted by BICOM, was held in celebration of Lord Weidenfeld’s 90^th birthday.