Home
News
Welcome video message from the Chair for the Delegation for relations with Israel
Statement by MEP Hildegard Bentele (EPP, DE), Chair of the Delegation for relations with Israel
On 4 February, Hildegard Bentele (EPP, DE) was unanimously elected as Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Israel. She will be supported by two Vice-Chairs, Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, NL) and Dan Nica (S&D, RO), unanimously elected at the same date.
On this occasion, Chair Hildegard Bentele said:
"It is a great honour and a special responsibility to lead the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Israel as Chair in these challenging times, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me. I am very confident that, together as a strong 18-member delegation, we will fulfil our important task of strengthening the EU-Israel partnership.
The Delegation for relations with Israel holds particular significance for me, notably in light of the events of 7 October 2023. Many hostages are still in the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas following the horrific attack on Israel. I welcome the release of hostages and ceasefire deal in Gaza, agreed in January, and I stress the importance of its full implementation, to allow all the hostages to be released, and to ensure a permanent end to hostilities.
We must focus our efforts, through parliamentary diplomacy, on promoting lasting peace and stability in the region. The European Union has long been a supporter of the Middle East peace process and the two-state solution, and now more than ever, it must follow words with actions. Our delegation will contribute to these efforts notably through our direct relation with the Knesset.
We will enhance dialogue with all our Israeli partners, in the Knesset, government, and civil society, to increase our mutual understanding, to promote the democratic values, and to strengthen our partnership. We will support the efforts to overcome the crisis in the region and to increase our bilateral relations in the many areas comprised in the Association Agreement.
We will take a decisive stand against rising antisemitism and the unbearable glorification of terror, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe, stressing loud and clear that Jewish life has a firm place at the heart of our societies, and our responsibility is to ensure that Jews never have to fear for their safety again.
I look forward to working with you all on this basis."
Statement by delegation Chair Hildegard Bentele on the occasion of Israel's 77th Independence Day
At a meeting of the Delegation for relations with Israel on 4 February 2025, Members elected a new Delegation Bureau.
Statement by Daniel Caspary MEP, Chair of the Delegation for relations with Israel
The constitutive meeting of the Delegation for relations with Israel took place on Monday 30 September 2024.
In order to facilitate a swift start to the new legislative term, Parliament has prepared for new Members a series of brochures providing detailed information on the EP's role in the external policies of the EU as well as the work of parliamentary standing delegations.