ELNET (organization)

Last updated
European Leadership Network
FoundedOctober 22, 2007;16 years ago (2007-10-22). [1]
PurposeTo "strengthen relations between Europe and Israel, based on shared democratic values and strategic interests"
Website elnetwork.eu

The European Leadership Network (ELNET), is a non-governmental organization that promotes links between Europe and Israel. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

ELNET was created in 2007 as a European pro-Israel advocacy group to assist European partners in becoming more active politically in countering criticism of Israel in Europe. [5] ELNET described itself as “the most influential pro-Israel advocacy organisation in Europe". [6]

ELNET is registered in Belgium (responsible for the EU & NATO), France, Germany, Poland, the UK, Italy and Israel. The organization includes an additional US-based entity, Friends of ELNET (FELNET), that fundraises for the network. [7] [8]

ELNET arranges visits by European parliament members, government officials, and other European policy leaders to Israel. [9] ELNET's role has been defined as "encouraging Jewish political activism". [10]

ELNET UK

In 2024, Declassified UK wrote that pro-Israel lobbyists, including ELNET, had donated to 13 out of Labour’s 25 cabinet members "since they were first elected to the parlement", founding the likes of prime minister Keir Starmer, foreign secretary David Lammy and Jonathan Reynolds, the latter is the one who "oversees arms exports to Israel as UK trade secretary". [11]  ELNET had organized a visit in Israel for Labour Friends of Israel (LFI)'s MPs including member of Starmer’s cabinet and health secretary Wes Streeting. [11] The visit organised by ELNET for Labour staffers "had ‘clear agenda’ to shape policies of next government". [6]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "European Lay-Leadership Network" (PDF). Federal Public Justice Service, Belgium. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Rose, David (12 January 2024). "Speak to Israelis and you'll understand why no-one is talking about two states". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "ELNET plans initiative to expose Hamas crimes against humanity". The Jerusalem Post . 21 November 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Our Mission". ELNET. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Guttman, Nathan (12 June 2008). "New European Pro-Israel Group Aims for Low Profile". The Forward . Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 Williams, Martin (4 July 2024). "The secretive group taking MPs on trips to Israel". Open Democracy . Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  7. ↑ Rosenbaum, Alan (9 July 2023). "Israel, Europe need to proactively face similar strategic challenges – ELNET official". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Torok, Ryan (14 December 2017). "Moving & Shaking: Friends of ELNET, StandWithUs and More". Jewish Journal . Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Dain Sharon, Alina (17 November 2015). "Non-Partisan Network Works to Bolster Europe-Israel Bonds". Algemeiner Journal . Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Eizenstat, Ambassador Stuart E. (2012). The Future of the Jews: How Global Forces are Impacting the Jewish People. Rowman and Littlefield. ISBN   978-1442216280.
  11. 1 2 McEvoy, John (9 July 2024). "Israel Lobby Funded Half Of Keir Starmer's Cabinet". Declassified UK . Retrieved 2024-10-06.


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