Set up following the direct elections of 1979, the Delegation for relations with Israel is one of Parliament’s oldest delegations.
The delegation is responsible for ‘maintaining and developing Parliament's international contacts’, while focusing on ‘the parliamentary dimension’, which in this case refers to relations with the Knesset.
The delegation holds regular working meetings and hearings to prepare for meetings in Israel or Strasbourg/Brussels with its Israeli equivalent. The 33rd meeting between the two delegations took place in Brussels in September 2008.
Depending on events in the region, the delegation can hold joint meetings with the relevant parliamentary committees (AFET, DROI and DEVE) or other delegations with responsibility for the region, such as the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council or Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries.
Following the elections of June 2009, the new Delegation for relations with Israel was set up in September (for the 2009-2014 parliamentary term). It consists of 22 members and is chaired by Mr Bastiaan Belder (EFD, NL).
