Beyond the Breaking Point: What Role for Europe in Israel-Palestine?

The Israel-Palestine conflict has deepened fractures within both the Israeli and Palestinian societies, within the respective leaderships and the people, as well as the very frameworks meant to pave a path to resolve it. The panel offers opportunities for Israelis, Palestinians and Europeans attending the event to examine these divides, exploring where space for dialogue and political action remains. What role for Europe in shaping a renewed momentum for a sustainable political solution of the conflict?

This event is part of the EPICON European-Palestinian-Israeli Trilateral Dialogue initiative, implemented by the Candid Foundation in cooperation with the Istituto Affari Internazionali.

The discussion will focus on three interconnected issues:
Social and political fractures – How have divisions within Israeli and Palestinian societies contributed to the current social and political crises? How do leadership, grassroots movements, and public attitudes influence the dynamics of conflict and the possibilities for solidarity amid war?
Breaking cycles of isolation and asymmetry – In an environment of shrinking civic and political spaces, where can meaningful encounters still take place? How can Israelis and Palestinians engage with one another in ways that acknowledge power imbalances while fostering mutual recognition?
Europe’s potential role in bridging divides – Can European engagement help create new political openings, and how can the EU support those working to sustain the social fabric amid conflict? How have external actors in the past influenced internal and conflict dynamics and how can these experiences be lessons for the future?