Strategic Assessment

The idea of disengaging unilaterally from parts of the West Bank is regaining currency in Israeli policy circles. If a key motivation for any future unilateral disengagement would be heading off international delegitimization of Israel, then the likely response of major EU states – often the “swing states” in international opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian issue – ought to be considered. A valuable tool in this respect is a review of the experience of the unilateral withdrawal in 2005. This shows that European support for unilateral disengagement cannot be assumed, and suggests a number of lessons to be learned on how to communicate and implement any future disengagement plan.