I am not writing this text by chance right now. Just yesterday, Israel and Germany signed a new security pact in Jerusalem. It is about cooperation, cybersecurity, the protection of critical infrastructure, and shared responsibility. Germany once again emphasized that Israel’s security is more than a political phrase. This very timing makes a tension visible that people in Israel have long felt. While partnership and shared security interests are emphasized on the bilateral level, the political tone toward Israel is simultaneously sharpening at the European level. Both are happening in parallel – and they currently shape the relationship between Israel and Europe.

After the Germany pact: Two European lines

The pact with Germany represents a clear, state-level line: security, cooperation, shared interests. At the European level, things look different. There, procedures, assessments, and political signals dominate. Support and criticism exist side by side, often without any apparent coordination. From an Israeli perspective, this appears contradictory. Not necessarily because Europe is against Israel, but because different political logics are at work simultaneously. For Europe, this...

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