The EU's Normative Power in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Power Dynamics and Policy Challenges

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine remains one of the longest-standing and most complex geopolitical challenges in the world, drawing significant attention from global actors, including the EU. For decades, the EU has played a significant role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, aiming to promote peace and stability in the region. However, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has raised critical questions about the EU’s security and its future role in global affairs. This paper provides a qualitative analysis of the EU’s influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on its normative power. The study draws on two key theories of power: realism, which emphasizes the pursuit of national interests through traditional means such as force and coercion, and normative power, which highlights the EU's ability to shape international norms, values, and policies through example and persuasion. The analysis focuses on significant speeches by EC President Ursula von der Leyen and former High Representative Josep Borrell (2019-2024) to assess the EU's approach to the ongoing conflict and evaluate its effectiveness in shaping outcomes towards a two-state solution . These speeches offer insights into how the EU balances its normative commitments with its geopolitical interests, particularly in light of rising security challenges within Europe. The findings suggest that the EU's influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is constrained by internal divisions and competing national interests, limiting its capacity to act as a cohesive normative power. Ultimately, this research assesses whether the EU can maintain its role as a credible actor in global diplomacy, especially in promoting peace and conflict resolution in a complex geopolitical landscape.