Israel’s foreign minister made headlines this week by attending a high-level meeting with Syrian and Lebanese officials—a rare occurrence signaling shifting regional dynamics. Ambassador to the European Union Haim Regev told The Jerusalem Post that he could not recall “the last time an Israeli foreign minister was in the same room as those of Lebanon and Syria.”
The Monday session brought together EU foreign ministers and counterparts from the Mediterranean, including Israel’s Gideon Sa’ar. Ministers from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Morocco also participated. “However, this time, the Syrian and Lebanese ministers also joined in. The very fact that they were sitting there sends a message,” Regev said.
The meeting occurred as anti-Israel sentiment grows within parts of the European Union. Spain and Ireland have pushed for a review of Israel’s Association Agreement, the foundational document of EU-Israel cooperation. “There are countries like Spain and Ireland that are obsessively anti-Israel,” Regev noted, but added, “Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy… work to prevent any further deterioration.”
The EU’s Vice-President Kaja Kallas recently launched a probe titled, “Is Israel Violating International Law in Gaza?” amid calls to punish Israel over military operations.
Still, Regev stressed diplomacy.“When you take such steps and demonstrate a willingness to improve the situation, it empowers Kallas to return to her colleagues and say, ‘There’s constructive dialogue, and we’re seeing progress,’” he said.
