Eu-israel council to hold first meeting in decade

BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) said on Thursday it will next week hold the first meeting of its Association Council with Israel in 10 years, as Brussels looks to reset ties.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid will hold talks with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Brussels on Oct.3 “against the backdrop of global challenges such as Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine,” the EU said.

“The discussion will focus on issues such as trade, climate change, energy, science and technology, culture,” the bloc said.

Talks would also engage on “the respect for human rights and democratic principles, freedom of religion as well as the fight against antisemitism,” it said.

Meetings of the council have been frozen for a decade since Israel ditched them over the EU’S opposition to expanding setlements in the West Bank.

The EU has been pushing for a “fresh start” with Israel since right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu was ousted from office in 2021 ater 12 years in charge.

Borrell earlier said he “warmly” welcomed centrist Lapid’s support for a two-state solution with the Palestinians at this month’s United Nations General Assembly.

The EU statement said that the bloc hoped to “buildonthemomentum”attheupcomingmeeting.

Separately, Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged an intensely divided public to keep its cool ahead of the country’s parliamentary election, warning that heated tempers could easily spin out of control.

Israelis head to the polls on Nov.1 for an unprecedented fith election in four years. There is no guarantee the vote will break the deadlock

between former premier Benjamin Netanyahu and biter rivals who unseated him last year.

“Violence is on the rise. Verbal violence - accusations of treason, comparisons to the Nazis, threats and curses - in the public sphere and on social media,” Herzog said in a speech on Wednesday evening ahead of the Yom Kippur holiday next week.