The European Union position towards Israel-Palestine : Changes in position after October 7th, 2023

Abstract: Since 1948 when Israel was created there have been many conflicts in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Palestine, both claiming rights over territory. To reach peace and security, the EU has supported the two state solution. There have been many published studies on the EU's position before the commencement of the Israeli-Hamas conflict on October 7th, 2023. This study investigates how, if at all, the EU's position has changed between October 7th and January 1st, 2024, as well as how divided the EU is over the conflict's position. This was accomplished through the use of a qualitative desk study and approaches such as process tracing and text analysis. The thesis uses rational choice as a theoretical framework to follow the process of decision making, political alliances and moral dilemmas. The study argues that there has been a change in position. The EU shows more support for Israel and continues to treat Palestine as a threat to Western security. However, this is not only a consequence of the conflict, but could also be explained by the political changes in Europe. In the end, the support for the two-state solution remains as this continues to benefit EUs own security. This continues to position the EU as a rational actor, as well as it prioritizes its strategic relationship with Israel.