FREE LECTURE: The Middle East Neighbourhood. Friends, Foes and Fragile Alliances

Nearly a decade has elapsed since the collapse of the Oslo Process. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have so far failed to reach an agreement, despite repeated attempts to find a solution to the Arab-Israeli dispute. Jordan and Egypt have remained committed to their respective peace agreements with Israel, despite the ebb and flow of violence in the region, but their leadership is embattled and in Egypt it faces a difficult succession struggle. While Israel's relations with the Arab world have considerably deteriorated, its traditional friendships with Turkey and the European Union have also been under pressure. In this environment, what foreign policy is Israel pursuing? What goals does it seek to achieve? What challenges can it hope to meet? The lecture will aim to answer these questions.