Israel must engage with, not withdraw from, peace
من مخيم الدهيشة قرب بيت لحم Israel must engage with, not withdraw from, peace Without progress in the peace negotiations, the EU’s growing cooperation with Israel will halt and contentious and divisive issues - not least an accelerated disengagement from the settlements - will prevail. By Jose Manuel Barroso | Jun. 8, 2014 In the aftermath of the appalling attack against the Jewish Museum in Brussels, people throughout Europe have spoken out loud and clear against terrorism in all its forms and against anti-Semitism or other expressions of racism. Such ideas are the very contrary to the European Union's core values of peace, openness, human dignity and diversity. These values are the pillars that guide our internal decisions and our external relations. These are also the values that underpin our partnership with Israel and our position on the peace process. But the EU-Israel relationship is not just based on our shared values, fundamental though they are.