WHY EUROPE? THE HISTORY OF ELNET
“Israel’s long-term security requires more strategic partners than just the United States. Europe, with its shared Western culture and democratic values, was a natural and important place to focus attention and build relationships.”
- Larry Hochberg, 2007
Newt Becker, Co-Founder
Larry Hochberg, Co-Founder
Hubert Leven, Co-Founder
These visionaries believed that a truly safe and secure Israel needed many friends around the world and that Israel’s long-term security required strategic partnerships in addition to the United States. As a result, they created the European Leadership Network (ELNET), an organization dedicated to fostering diplomatic, defense, and economic cooperation between key European countries and Israel.
ELNET sought to influence the trajectory of Israel’s relations with Europe by investing in pro-Israel advocacy, high-level delegations, and innovative programs, all intending to demonstrate the strategic importance of bilateral ties.
In 2007, innovative leaders from the United States and Europe founded ELNET.
Almost two decades later, ELNET has become the most influential pro-Israel advocacy organization in Europe with offices in six European countries, Israel, and the U.S. ELNET works in nearly 40 countries, as well as NATO and the EU.
ELNET is paving the way for a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for Israel, Europe, the U.S., and all Western-aligned countries.
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David F. Siegel, ELNET-US President, and Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in NYC
A VISION REALIZED
Created when Europe seemed to be turning irreversibly against Israel, our work has demonstrated that Europe is a vital defense, diplomatic, and economic partner to Israel.
Europe and Israel stand today as crucial trade partners in defense, energy, agriculture, and technology, and tectonic geopolitical shifts are aligning their cooperation even further.
ELNET ENHANCES Israel’S SECURITY
ELNET works to ensure that European countries stand with Israel as vital strategic partners. We facilitate defense, intelligence, and security cooperation between Europe and Israel to confront threats from shared adversaries: Russia, Iran, China, and Islamist extremism.
We shore up support for Israel across Europe to oppose biased rulings, resolutions, and BDS campaigns. We foster Europe-Israel economic cooperation and Europe’s involvement in the Abraham Accords, IMEC — Indo-Mediterranean Economic Corridor, and other strategic initiatives.
ELNET stands at the forefront of the Europe-Israel relationship, and our impact provides an outsized ROI to Israel’s relationships with Europe. In an era of turbulence and uncertainty, ELNET’s programs build strategic relationships between Israel and Europe that affect Israel’s long-term security and prosperity.