EU Parliament Hosts Jews

The European Union’s new foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was quick to criticize Israel in her very first speech Tuesday.

In her address to EU representatives in Strasbourg, she belittled Israel’s construction freeze in West Bank settlements, calling it a “first step,” and condemned Israel’s “occupation.”

In what might be a counter-back, Chairman of the powerful Committee for Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament Gabriele Albertini hosted a Chanukah celebration in Strasbourg, France.

In his opening remarks, Albertini mentioned his close relationship with the Jewish committee of Italy and especially with the Chabad Lubavitch institutions in Milan, where he served as Mayor from 1997 until 2006.

Israel’s Ambassador to the European Union, Ran Curiel took the opportunity to speak about Jerusalem as “the eternal united capital of Israel.”

Curiel’s words had special meaning as a mere minutes earlier an animated debate ended in the house on the relations of Israel and its neighbors.

The event was a project of the European Jewish Public Affairs, headed by Rabbi Levi Matusof, in cooperation with AT&T, European Friends of Israel and Rabbi Mendel Samama of Chabad Lubavitch of Strasbourg.

Dozens of parliament members from over 20 countries attended this annual event that is now seen as a holiday tradition.

Many participants recalled their participation in Chabad-organized Chanukah events in their cities of origin in the previous years.

Marek Siwiec, Member of the European Parliament from Poland and Vice-Chairman of the European Friends of Israel, recalled how he hosted the first Chanukah celebrations in the Polish Presidential Palace when he served as National Security Adviser and the Chanukah lighting in the European Parliament in 2004.

On behalf of the European Commission, the Vice-President Antonio Tajani delivered warm seasonal greetings.

The European Parliament is smoke-free building and special permission was granted for candles to be lit just for an hour.