On 29 May 2026, Dr Libby Lahar, Visiting Fellow and PhD alumna from the International Institute of Social Studies, and a panel of experts discuss the role of Europe in shaping the political future and economic viability of Palestine. Their discussion will draw on Lahar's new book, The Economic Diplomacy of Peace in the Middle East: Paris Protocol to the Oslo Accords.
- Date
- Friday 29 May 2026, 16:00 - 17:30
- Type
- Book presentation
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Atrium
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
More than two and a half years into the Gaza war, and despite the ceasefire, Gaza continues to face an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, while systematic violence and displacement intensify in the West Bank.
At the same time, the stagnation of the US-Iran conflict, alongside the easing of US sanctions on Russia, is reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and raising urgent questions about Europe’s role in the future of Palestine.
The role of Europe in shaping the future of Palestine
This panel explores the role of Europe, and particularly the Netherlands, in shaping the political future and economic viability of Palestine.
The discussion draws on the book The Economic Diplomacy of Peace in the Middle East: Paris Protocol to the Oslo Accords, which examines how economic ideas, particularly bilateral trade, contributed to the 1993 Oslo I Accord.
It further explores how both negative and positive economic incentives have been used to advance the peace process in the region, from the Oslo process to the 2020 Abraham Accords and the ongoing negotiations amid the current context, offering insights into both the lessons of Oslo and the derailment of the peace process.
Speakers
The presentation will be in the form of a conversation on the role of Europe and the Netherlands, economic diplomacy and the future of Palestine with:
