The European Union (EU) announced on Monday that it had canceled the reception of diplomats on Tuesday in Israel, within the framework of the celebration of Europe Day, in the announced presence of the Israeli Minister of National Security, the extremist Ben Gvir.
“The EU delegation in Israel wishes to celebrate Europe Day on May 9 in the host country, as every year. Unfortunately, this year we have decided to cancel the usual diplomatic reception,” the diplomacy spokesperson said in a statement. european. , Peter Stano.
In the document, European diplomacy made it clear that the EU “does not want to offer” a platform to people “whose opinions contradict the values defended” by Brussels.
However, he assured that the EU will maintain in Tel Aviv the cultural event that it planned to hold to commemorate the date with the Israeli public.
“[O ato cultural] aims to celebrate with our friends and partners in Israel the strong and constructive bilateral relationship,” the statement read.
Prior to the publication of the statement, and at a press conference in Brussels, Stano had indicated that the EU was in internal consultations with member states on the announced presence of Ben Gvir at the now canceled ceremony.
The spokesman then recalled that the EU “does not support” the political opinions of the ultranationalist Ben Gvir and those of the party he leads, the Jewish Power (extreme right and anti-Arab), since they are “in total contradiction with all the values and principles” that the European Union “defends and believes”.
Normally, it is the host country’s head of diplomacy who attends the annual event and delivers the Europe Day speech, but Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is on an official visit to India, so the secretary of the government chose Ben Gvir to replace him.
Ben Gvir, a member of the coalition government led by Benjamin Netanyahu with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, has been convicted in the past of racism, ‘hooliganism’, inciting violence and supporting a terrorist organization, the Jewish supremacist group Kaj.
Last week, during a visit to Brussels, Cohen discussed with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, the preparations for a new Association Council between the two parties, which could take place in Jerusalem, according to the head of Israeli diplomacy. .
In October 2022, the EU and Israel held the first Association Council since July of the same year, after not having convened for more than ten years, due to the reluctance of European Member States regarding Israel’s policy of colonial expansion, which, they argue, jeopardizes the possibility of a future Palestinian state.
Source: TSF
