The European Union has announced its refusal to authorize Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to represent the Israeli government at Europe Day events in Tel Aviv.
informed Jewish newspaper “Yediot Ahronot”.that “the Delegation of the European Union in Israel has sent letters to the Israeli Foreign Ministry requesting that Ben-Gvir not represent the government at the Europe Day reception to be organized next Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
The embassy said it “does not support the political views of Minister Ben Gvir or his party”, stating: “In fact, many of his previous statements and opinions are contrary to the values that the European Union represents.”
For its part, the Israeli government’s General Secretariat responded to the European request by saying it would “only do so if the minister requests his replacement”, but Ben Gvir announced he would attend the event.
As part of the performance, Ben Gvir is also to deliver a speech to the participants, congratulating them on the holiday, which will be attended by ambassadors of many foreign countries in Israel, the newspaper said.
And “Europe Day”, which falls annually on May 9th, commemorates the announcement by the late French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman in 1950 of the establishment of the “European Coal and Steel Community”, which formed the first core of the European Union.
