President of France Emmanuel Macron meets with Benjamin Netanyahu- Kobi Gideon (GPO)
European leaders are following the example set by US President Joe Biden and are coming to visit Israel at a time of War. President of France Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer and others met this week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday met at the Kirya (IDF headquarters) in Tel Aviv with Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
“I came here in this difficult time to express our clear support and solidarity with Israel,” Prime Minister Fiala told Netanyahu. “October 7th was the most tragic day for Israel and Jewish people for decades.”
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“These acts of violence have no place in our world,” he said. “I want to make it very clear: Czech Republic stands with Israel, now and ever. And like 75 years ago, you can count on our voice and support.”
Fiala said that on Thursday he will go to Brussels to a European Council meeting and that his goal is to “ensure that the Council confirms the strong support for Israel and its right to defend itself. Hamas is our common enemy. We must ensure that it is isolated.”
“So, dear Prime Minister,” he concluded, “Israel can count on Czech Republic. We are with you as we always have been.”
President of France Emmanuel Macron is in Israel and met with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
To Netanyahu Macron said, “I’m here to express our support, our solidarity, and our support for today, tomorrow, in all different fields of this battle against terrorism. I consider that this is an international coalition in order to fight against this terrorist group that we have to build.”
“I warned against any escalation, and I warned Hezbollah and other regimes not to be part of what’s happening,” said Macron.
“Let me express again my solidarity, my friendship, and the fact that France stands with you in this awful terrorist acts you had to experience. We are with your people,” declared Emmanuel Macron.
President of France Emmanuel Macron with President Isaac Herzog – Omer Meron (GPO)
President Isaac Herzog met at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem with President of France Emmanuel Macron.
“What happened on the 7th of October was an awful terror attack against your people, your nation, and its right,” Macron told Herzog. “And it caused immense shock for the whole planet, especially in France. I am here to express our solidarity today and tomorrow.”
Macron spoke about how he spent time with some families of the innocent people being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
“I saw some families having lost children, brothers, and some other families waiting for hostages,” he said.
Macron added that the first objective is the release of all hostages “without any distinction (as to nationality) because this is an awful crime to play with the lives of children, adults, all people, civilians and soldiers.”
“I want you to be sure, that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and your nation.”
“What happened will never be forgotten to be sure. And we will be here today, tomorrow, and the day after, for peace and stability. These people were killed just because they were Jewish and they wanted to live in peace.”
President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday met in Tel Aviv with Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer, who was visiting Israel to show solidarity with its people.
“We are standing side by side here today, and it’s a sign of solidarity with Israel, with the people in Israel, and a sign of our joint fight against terrorism,” said Chancellor Nehammer.
“We condemn Hamas heinous terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, and the barbaric murder of innocent civilians, and in the strongest possible terms. Hamas must release hostages immediately, and unconditionally,” he said adding, “Israel has every right to defend itself in accordance with international law.”
Unlike the UN Secretary General who made remarks Tuesday saying the Hamas attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” the Austrian Chancellor said unequivocally, “there is never a justification for terror. We must fight terror here and now with all our power and thereby prevent terror from spreading in your region, and far beyond. To put it clearly, we must erase terror and Austria stands by your side.”
Chancellor Nehammer said that to achieve the goal of “erasing” terror, “all forces in the region and beyond must work together”
And in a reference to the Jewish slogan coined after the Holocaust that such an atrocity against the Jewish people must never happen again, the Chancellor concluded, “As Austrian Chancellor, I will do everything I can in order to fight antisemitism and to promote Jewish life because ‘Never Again’ is now.”
