Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, this evening (Tuesday, 14 June 2022).
They held a private meeting followed by an expanded meeting between the sides and discussed strengthening bilateral relations between Israel and Europe. They also agreed on the need to enhance cooperation in – inter alia – innovation, dealing with climate change and sustainability.
Prime Minister Bennett acceded to EU Commission President von der Leyen's request for cooperation in exporting natural gas to Europe via Egypt.
Prime Minister Bennett also presented Iran's actions in the region and emphasized his call for the international community to take a hard line against the regime and its accelerated progress toward developing nuclear weapons.
Following are Prime Minister Bennett's remarks at the statements:
"I'd like to welcome you here to Jerusalem. I'm delighted to see you, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. It's a pleasure to host you and your distinguished delegation here in Israel. And we know that you're a great friend of the Jewish people and a great friend of Israel.
“Being the first female president of the European Commission in history, I'm glad you met a bunch of members from my government, which I'm proud to say is the government with the most amount of female ministers in Israel's history.
“It's also the government with the greatest variety in our history. We have religious and secular, right and left, Jews and Arabs and it's quite a juggling act but we're keeping it up.
“Yesterday my government celebrated a year in office and what a year it's been. Over the last year, we rejuvenated Israel's ties with our neighbors in the region. We want to build bridges to peace.
“We repositioned climate change on Israel's agenda and made it a national priority and we redefined Israel's place in the global community.
“I'm happy to say that today Israel and Europe are on a very strong and positive trajectory. Trade, innovation and economic cooperation are soaring. We're witnessing our partnership reach new heights.
“Half a year ago, Israel joined Horizon Europe and again, this week my government approved that Israel will be joining Creative Europe and today, we'll be joining hands towards even greater endeavors.
“The Jewish people in Europe share a long history. Today we can look forward knowing that Europe is in the hands of leaders such as yourself who understand the weight and the responsibility and take firm action in the face of antisemitism.
“Your words today at the Ben-Gurion University were powerful. You said Israel and Europe are bound to be friends and allies because the history of Europe is the history of the Jewish people. I could not agree more.
“I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate you Madam President on your honorary doctorate from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev. It's a good university, Madam Doctor.
“With the ongoing and devastating war in Ukraine come vast global implications. It's time for the international community to work together. We, even in our region we're seeing a potential for great famine and distress that can have profound implications for the stability and welfare of people, which is why today both of us will be discussing ways where the EU and Israel can cooperate on food security, energy and more.
“In recent years, Israel went from being a gas importer to becoming a gas exporter. And we're currently working to produce natural gas from – more natural gas from – Israel's economic waters.
“I'd like to take this opportunity to commend the respective leaders of the EU for their recent decision to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency. This decision came after Iran refused to give the IAEA satisfactory explanations for traces of uranium found in sites that Iran failed to declare on.
“If hiding information wasn’t enough, the Iranian regime also threatened to retaliate if the IAEA were to vote against them. And when the IAEA indeed voted against Iran – Iran responded by turning off 27 surveillance cameras from nuclear sites across the country. Essentially, cutting off the international community's ability to see what Iran is doing. This is a very dangerous move.
“Iran's belligerent actions should be a wake-up call for the international community and should be met with clear and strong consequences – increased pressure and holding Iran accountable at the UN Security Council. The only way for Iran to be stopped is if we act and stop them.
“Israel and the EU are natural partners and we've got a lot to talk about at dinner today. But before we roll up our sleeves and get to work, I really again want to thank you for your deep friendship to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. We know that it's from your heart. And thank you for being a partner in this new chapter of relations between Israel and Europe. Thank you very much and welcome to Israel."