Israel's Path to Europe: The Negotiations for a Preferential Agreement, 1957-1970

Description

Relations between the new state of Israel and the European Union in the first twenty years of the Community's existence were a major policy issue given the background of the Holocaust and the way the new nation was established. This book focuses on Israel-European Community relations from 1957 to 1975 - from the signing of the Treaty of Rome (1957), which officially established the Common Market, to the conclusion of Israel's Free Trade Agreement with the Community. It reveals a new and key facet of Israeli diplomacy during the country's infancy, joining the many studies concerning Israel's relations with the United States, France, Germany and Britain. Israel’s Path to Europe- Front Cover Israel’s Path to Europe Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgments List of illustrations Figure Tables Introduction Chapter 1: The path to economic integration Historical background: the establishment of the EuropeanEconomic Community The European Community institutions The economies of The Six: the effects of establishing the EEC Chapter 2: The Israeli economy confronts the CommonMarket challenge A blooming economy Agriculture—Israel’s most important export sector The future of Israel’s economy lies in industry! The Common Market challenge to Israeli exports Chapter 3: Pursuing a range of options Establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee Israel’s attempt to penetrate the Council of Europe and theinitiative for a multilateral agreement The Israeli campaign for multilateral negotiations withOEEC countries Initial contacts with the EEC Chapter 4: A covert understanding between the Commission and Israel The Commission pushes Israel towards thesolution of association The Israelis decide in favor of association Lobbying in the capitals of The Six The failure of Israel’s first attempt to achieve association Chapter 5: The end of the dream of association A limited trade agreement? Israel insists on association At a crossroads Chapter 6: The decision to begin negotiations on a trade agreement The bureaucrats in Brussels stand firm Lobbying for negotiations The adaptation of the “tactical approach” The decision to open negotiations Chapter 7: The low ebb of Israel-EEC negotiations Stalemate in the first round of negotiations The Dutch initiative The negotiations hit rock bottom Chapter 8: A non-preferential agreement New proposals in Rome and Bonn Rey assumes the reins The Israeli dilemma Chapter 9: Israel’s return to association Orange exports and the “European product” The meeting of the follow-up committee: Israel abandons thepragmatic approach Israel returns to the association solution The Commission decides in favor of a preferential agreement Chapter 10: A preferential agreement The Six Day War and France’s uncooperative stance The change in the German position and the Frenchcapitulation Conclusions Appendix 1: List of archives and abbreviations Appendix 2: Illustrations Index