The Council of Europe and Israel

Israel has long had a close association with the Council of Europe, as a formal “Observer”. The article examines the origins of this status, the criteria that underpin its award to non-Council members and how, if at all, the violent nature of Israel’s relationship with its immediate neighbours has affected its operation. The article puts Israel’s engagement with the Council in the wider context of the extensive colonial territories enjoyed by Member States during the Council’s early years. The piece ends with two suggestions for reform, one general, the other specific to Israel.